Following a period of public input, Twitter has refined its upcoming plans for a revised verification system, scheduled for implementation in the coming year. The company halted public verification requests in 2017 and has since revisited several aspects of the information the platform communicates to its users, extending beyond simple blue checkmarks.

A significant change related to verification involves Twitter’s intention to introduce a method for identifying bots and other automated accounts.

“It can be unclear for individuals when it’s not apparent that accounts are operating automatically,” the company explained in a blog announcement. “We are planning to introduce a new account designation in 2021 to differentiate automated accounts from those managed by people, making it simpler to distinguish between a bot and a human user.”

While not all automated accounts are detrimental, bots have been a consistent presence on the platform since its inception and continue to serve as some of the most helpful, entertaining, and generally appreciated sources of content.

The company is also developing an improved system for managing accounts belonging to deceased users, and intends to launch a memorialization feature in 2021. Twitter states that memorialized accounts, similar to bots, will be categorized as “a new account type,” setting them apart from standard user accounts. This approach aligns with the rationale behind Twitter’s labels for public officials, which aim to provide readily visible contextual information about users.

Considering over 22,000 responses regarding the new verification process, Twitter will no longer mandate a profile biography or header image for verification, deeming its previous requirements “unduly restrictive.” It has also broadened the definitions of several verification categories, expanding “sports” to encompass esports and incorporating more specific language regarding digital content creators within the entertainment category.

Twitter also noted receiving numerous requests for additional verification categories for scientists, academics, and religious leaders. Until new categories are established, these users can apply for verification under the existing “activists, organizers, and other influential individuals” category.

Applicants for verification will be required to apply under a specific category and provide supporting documentation or links. This new “self-service” verification process will be accessible through account settings on both mobile and desktop devices.

Twitter will begin enforcing the new account verification policy on January 20, 2021, three years after suspending the process. The company has not yet announced when public verification applications will be reopened, but suggests that an announcement is forthcoming and plans to share more details shortly. Starting on the 20th, Twitter will begin removing inactive verified accounts and those that do not meet its updated standards for a “complete account.”

Under the revised policy, a complete account – and one eligible for verification – must have a confirmed email address or phone number, a profile picture, and a display name. Users who are currently verified but do not meet these criteria will receive notifications outlining the necessary changes, which must be completed before January 20.

Twitter’s new policy also clarifies the company’s authority to revoke verification from accounts found to be in “serious or repeated violation” of the platform’s guidelines. This updated policy could provide a more defined process for addressing users who violate the rules, although effective enforcement will remain crucial.

“We will continue to assess such accounts individually and will implement improvements in 2021 regarding the connection between rule enforcement and verification,” Twitter stated in its announcement.

Twitter initially paused the verification process in November 2017 following public criticism of its decision to verify Jason Kessler. Kessler was a prominent organizer of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which attracted neo-Nazis and white supremacists and resulted in the death of a counterprotester. The pause was extended the following year as the company prioritized resources toward maintaining election integrity.

With the midterm and general U.S. elections concluded, Twitter has resumed its efforts to redesign the verification process and its significance for platform users. The company is also exploring new features aimed at reducing harassment, negativity, and the spread of false information.

Twitter recently introduced measures to increase friction in the retweet process in an attempt to curb the dissemination of misinformation, although this change was later reversed after the election. Twitter’s latest experiment involves a new pop-up window that displays shared interests and a profile biography when a user prepares to respond to someone they do not follow.