Reddit Tries New Verification Feature
Reddit is experimenting with Reddit verification badges for a small group of users. These badges appear as a grey checkmark beside the username. They aim to help people understand who they are engaging with during important moments. For example, this includes experts hosting AMAs, journalists sharing updates, or brands posting official statements.
Reddit says the feature is optional. It supports the platform’s culture of pseudonymity, which encourages open and honest conversations. However, the company believes verified profiles can reduce confusion and limit misinformation. The idea is not about giving special status. Instead, it helps users and moderators confirm when someone is being truthful about their identity.
The absence of a badge does not mean someone is pretending to be someone else. Since this is a limited pilot, many well-known users will not receive checks right away. Tony Hawk, for instance, often chats casually in skateboarding communities. His posts feel like anyone else’s, though his videos make his identity obvious.
Who Can Get Verified
Right now, Reddit is verifying accounts manually. It plans to move to a third-party system later. Eligible users must be active, trusted contributors in good standing. However, Reddit will not verify NSFW profiles or accounts that mainly engage in adult communities.
This test arrives at a time when other platforms explore similar ideas. For instance, Digg’s revived team wants tools that prove people are real humans online. OpenAI’s Sam Altman is also developing humanity-verification technology aimed at limiting bot activity.
For Reddit, the goal is simple. It wants to keep conversations transparent while preserving user freedom. As the test expands, the community will learn whether the badges help create a safer, clearer experience.
