Reddit is rolling out a limited test of verified profiles, introducing a distinctive grey checkmark next to the usernames of notable individuals and businesses. This initiative aims to enhance user trust and combat misinformation by clearly identifying experts, celebrities, journalists, and brands within its communities.
The platform explicitly stated its new feature is designed to help users "understand who they’re engaging with in moments when verification matters, whether it’s an expert or celebrity hosting an AMA, a journalist reporting news, or a brand sharing information," according to a blog post.
A New Approach to Verification
In an era where verification badges have often become associated with paid subscriptions rather than genuine notability—a trend seen on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta—Reddit is taking a different approach. The company believes it's a good idea to verify public figures' accounts to help mitigate the spread of misinformation.
While Reddit acknowledges that pseudonymity is a cornerstone of its culture, fostering open expression, the new verification feature is entirely voluntary and opt-in. It's positioned not as a marker of elite status, but as a practical tool for both ordinary users and subreddit moderators to quickly confirm a user's identity, thereby providing a layer of authenticity without compromising the platform's core values.
The absence of a checkmark does not imply a user is fraudulent. Reddit is piloting this feature with a small batch of profiles, and even if it sees a full rollout, many famous Redditors may still choose not to get a checkmark.
Eligibility and Implementation
Currently in an alpha rollout, eligibility for a grey checkmark requires users to be active contributors in good standing and "trusted partners"—a term Reddit has yet to fully define. Users with NSFW profiles or those primarily engaging in NSFW communities are ineligible for verification. Initially, Reddit is manually verifying profiles but plans to transition to a third-party verification process in the future.
The platform emphasizes that verification is about identity, not changing user behavior. For instance, legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk often posts casually on skateboarding subreddits, engaging with fans. While his posts might seem like any other user's, his identity is verifiable, adding a layer of authenticity without altering his interaction style. A recent example includes him sharing a video of his "Second heelflip in 3 years [57YO]" on r/OldSkaters, a clear demonstration of his authentic engagement.
Second heelflip in 3 years [57YO]
byu/tonyskates inOldSkaters
A Broader Trend in Digital Identity
Reddit's exploration of verification is not an isolated event; it aligns with a broader industry trend towards verifying human identity online amidst growing concerns over bots and AI agents. Notably, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian is simultaneously launching a reboot of the social aggregator Digg. Digg's founders have expressed concern that the internet is becoming flooded with bots and AI, and they want Digg to be a place where people can connect with actual humans. They've said they're looking into using zero-knowledge proofs as a potential way to verify that users are human.
Similarly, OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman's Worldcoin project, a human verification initiative, is also focused on keeping bots out of online interactions, with an app expected to be released soon.
