Verified YouTube accounts get new look and updated requirements

YouTube is making a few changes to its verification process and the way verified accounts appear on its platform.

The company on Thursday revealed that verified accounts will no longer have the checkmark (or musical note for musicians) next to their names.

“Through our research, we found that viewers often associated the checkmark with an endorsement of content, not identity,” YouTube said on its blog.

Now, both verified musicians and creators will be distinguishable by a grey box highlighting their names.

“The new look will be displayed more consistently across channel pages, search and comments, and is more difficult to replicate, so that viewers can be sure of a channel’s identity,” YouTube explained.

The company is also changing the requirements for verification on YouTube to ensure that verified accounts are real and prominent on the platform.

Beyond identifying that the creator or company behind the channel is authentic, the company will also consider how “well-known or highly searched” they are, and how popular they are outside YouTube.

Previously, a creator simply had to have more than 100 000 subscribers to qualify for verification.

“Channels that meet the new requirements no longer need to apply; we will automatically apply the new verified treatment,” YouTube said.

The company further revealed that it won’t take anyone’s verification away immediately, rather it will notify users who no longer meet the requirements and allow them to appeal the decision.

Feature image: YouTube