At first glance, social media might not seem like an obvious use case for identity verification (IDV). Unlike tightly regulated industries like banking and telecommunications, most platforms don’t require users to prove who they are, making social media identity more fluid and, at times, easier to fake. In many cases, IDV is offered as an optional or premium feature rather than a mandatory step.

But with digital threats such as deepfakes, impersonation, and romance scams on the rise, a more secure approach to social media identity may soon become essential.

This article explores how identity verification works on social platforms, why it’s becoming more important, and how it may evolve in the near future.

Why Identity Verification Matters on Social Media

There are three major reasons why social platforms are increasingly turning to IDV:

1. Strengthening Cybersecurity

Social platforms are integral to modern life, with over 5.24 billion global users as of early 2025. But not all these accounts belong to genuine individuals. Scammers, impersonators, and bots also use these platforms to exploit others.

Many social networks, such as Facebook, serve as single sign-on options for third-party apps. This means that if a social media account is compromised, it can grant attackers access to services like the Wallet app, where users store sensitive financial data. Beyond socializing, platforms now facilitate shopping and payments—for example, Instagram Shopping and Meta Pay—further increasing the potential damage from a hijacked account.

The proliferation of deepfakes adds another layer of risk. Fraudsters can create hyper-realistic profiles to run romance scams, spread disinformation, or execute identity fraud. Publicized incidents like these tarnish platform reputations and can drive users away.

2. Gaining a Competitive Edge

As new platforms like Bluesky and BeReal enter the scene, established players must differentiate themselves. One area with clear potential? Trust and authenticity.

A Regula survey found that 26% of people see social media and personal relationships as the most impacted areas by deepfakes. Additionally, 42% of cybersecurity experts cited identity theft, and 33% cited disinformation, as top risks linked to deepfakes—issues frequently rooted in social media misuse.

Public sentiment on account security also reveals high levels of fear, anger, and disappointment, particularly on forums like Reddit. This shows growing demand for safer digital spaces.

By implementing robust IDV, platforms can offer a trusted environment, which is especially attractive to content creators, who benefit from deanonymization and credibility.

3. Preparing for Regulation

While social platforms have traditionally escaped heavy regulation, that’s beginning to change.

For example:

• The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) requires platforms to moderate illegal content or face fines of up to 6% of global revenue.
  
• In 2023, the EU banned TikTok on official devices. By 2024, the US followed with stronger actions, even proposing a total ban.

Additional regional initiatives reinforce the trend:

• The UK Online Safety Act (2023) mandates age verification and child protection, with fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue.
  
• Australia’s Online Safety Act (2021) imposes similar obligations.
  
• France is pushing for a regulatory body to collect user IDs during social media registration.

In short, IDV isn’t just a security measure—it’s also a strategic investment to ensure compliance with looming global regulations.

How Social Platforms Are Verifying Users Today

While not always mandatory, many social platforms already offer some level of identity verification. Here’s how leading platforms approach it:

WhatsApp: Phone Number Verification

WhatsApp uses phone numbers as the core user identifier. New users verify via a 6-digit code sent by SMS or call. In some cases, the app automatically validates the number with telecom operators.

Security can be enhanced with two-step verification, requiring users to set and confirm a unique PIN for account access.

Meta (Facebook & Instagram): Paid Verified Badges

Meta offers a subscription-based verification service—starting at $14.99/month—which includes a blue badge, impersonation protection, and identity confirmation via government-issued ID. In select regions, video selfies are used for additional validation.

Important notes:

• Only available in certain countries.
  
• Not accessible to users under 18.
  
• Verified profiles must match the submitted ID (name, photo, DOB).

These badges also extend to WhatsApp Channels under the same Meta umbrella.

X (formerly Twitter): Colored Verification Checks

X offers tiered verification:

• Blue: Individual users
  
• Gold: Brands and nonprofits
  
• Gray: Government entities
  
• Black: Affiliates of verified organizations

Eligibility depends on account completeness, activity, and notability. For individuals, verification requires photo ID submission; businesses verify via official emails or websites.

LinkedIn: Multiple Verification Methods

LinkedIn offers gray badges based on different verification types:

• Identity verification (via selfie + government ID)
  
• Workplace verification (via corporate email or Microsoft Entra Verified ID)
  
• Education verification (in select cases)

Third-party services often support identity checks, especially in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Will the Future of Social Media Be Deanonymized?

As social networks evolve, so will their approaches to identity. Here are three likely developments:

1. Wider Adoption of Age Verification

Most existing regulations target minors’ safety. Platforms like YouTube already offer child-friendly versions and parental controls. Expect age verification to become a global standard, especially for content-sensitive or youth-focused platforms.

2. More Accessible and Inclusive ID Verification

Currently, IDV is often tied to paid services. In the future, we’ll likely see broader, free-to-use verification methods, potentially using digital identities, which offer more user control and privacy than traditional document scans.

3. Mainstreaming of Biometric Verification

Today, biometric checks like selfie or video verification are optional. Soon, they could become mandatory, especially with the rise of liveness detection, requiring users to perform gestures or expressions to prove authenticity. These tools are particularly effective against deepfake-driven attacks.

Final Thoughts

Social media has transformed from a casual communication channel into a multifaceted digital ecosystem, hosting everything from payments and news to shopping and activism. As the stakes grow, so does the need for secure, trustworthy digital identities.

Identity verification is no longer a luxury or a checkbox—it’s a powerful tool for protecting users, building trust, and future-proofing platforms against regulatory and reputational threats.

As deepfakes and digital deception rise, social platforms must act. Identity verification is a critical step toward a safer, more transparent online world.