Skip to main content

Google+ now verifying accounts of the famous

If you’ve been apprehensive about starting a ‘Famous People’ Google+ circle because you just weren’t sure if celebrities’ pages are actually them, worry no longer. Google+ is currently rolling out a new verification system to guarantee the Ricky Martin you’re following is the real deal.

According to a Google Blog post announcing the change, Google+ is currently working on giving verification badges to “public figures, celebrities, and people who have been added to a large number of Circles.” If you’re famous, at least in the Google+ world, Google wants to make sure you’re you, although the announcement doesn’t describe the actual process the company is using to do so.

In and of itself, the verification system is nothing new. Twitter is already using “Verified” badges that are plain to see and Facebook also does verification work for any profiles claiming to be those of the famous. What’s interesting about the Google+ addition is that the company is interested in rolling out the service to an increased number of people. So even if you’re unpopular, you may get to have a shiny new verification badge in the future.

With that in mind, Google+ has opened a whole new chapter in the debate over the use of real names in social networks. Verifying the official accounts of the famous and powerful is a good thing all around because of the influence their pages can have. But with the possibility of the service being rolled out across the network, it’s also possible that Google will require users to verify their identities, especially in light of the Google+ policy banning pseudonyms.

So as the pseudonym debate rages on, it seems Google+ has pretty clearly picked the side it will take: guaranteeing that its users are who they say they are.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Derek Mead
Former Digital Trends Contributor
How to delete your Instagram account
Over selfies and an onslaught of ads? Here's how delete your Instagram account

Pixabay/Pexels

You can’t deny Instagram can be a ball-and-chain. Maybe you’re sick of feeling like you have to capture every single moment of your existence, or perhaps you’re tired of seeing the perfectly posed pictures of everyone else’s life. If you’re anything like us, maybe you’re just tired of the strain that comes from juggling multiple accounts or waiting for those minute-long videos to load on the bus.
Related reads

Read more
Instagram now lets everyone apply for a verification badge
instagram drug hashtags cell phone tablet device 163148

If you're on Instagram and unverified but really like the idea of having a blue badge next to your name, then the route to that goal has become a little bit easier.

We say "a little" because Instagram says the new system, which lets you apply for the verification badge through the app, is mainly for "notable public figures." With most folks on the planet unable to be classified as such, the coveted blue badge looks set to remain out of reach for many, at least for now.

Read more
Can’t quit Facebook? You can protect yourself without deleting your account
top tech stories facebook

Facebook started out as a great way to connect the world, find old friends, and upgrade this whole "face-to-face" talking thing we've been stuck with. It ended up as a way for marketers to Hoover up our information and sell stuff to us. The recent fiasco with Cambridge Analytica is a perfect example of everything that's wrong with the social network.

But maybe, just maybe, there's still some good left in Facebook. Maybe you don't want to leave -- how else would you stay in touch with Cousin Margo and that friend who moved to Australia? There are a variety of ways you can protect your private data, ensure your confidentiality, and in general prevent all those bad actors from latching onto your data. Follow the steps below to protect yourself without deleting Facebook entirely -- or just go whole hog and delete your Facebook account completely.
Alternative No. 1: Remove Facebook from apps
This first alternative removes Facebook from connected apps. You're essentially turning the platform off so third-party apps don't have access to your account and its information. Here's how to block them:

Read more