Reddit is beginning a limited test of verified profiles. This new feature places a grey checkmark next to the username of a notable person or business. According to Reddit, the goal is to help users quickly understand who they are engaging with in moments where verification matters, such as when an expert is hosting an AMA, a journalist is reporting news, or a brand is sharing information.
This move recalls an earlier time on the internet when a verification checkmark simply confirmed a notable figure’s identity, rather than indicating a paid subscription. Reddit has decided that verifying the accounts of public figures is a good idea to help mitigate the spread of misinformation.
The company acknowledges that pseudonymity is a core part of its culture, allowing users to express themselves openly. Reddit emphasizes this feature is completely voluntary and opt-in. It is less about denoting a special elite status and more about making it easier for users and moderators to quickly confirm someone is truthful about their identity.
However, the absence of a checkmark does not mean someone is a fraud. Reddit is piloting the feature with a small batch of profiles. Even with a full rollout, some well-known Redditors may not have a checkmark. For example, Tony Hawk posts casually on skateboarding subreddits, chatting with fans about his favorite sport. He blends in, though he does give himself away when sharing videos of himself, a 57-year-old, performing heel flips.
During this alpha rollout, eligibility is limited to active contributors in good standing and unspecified “trusted partners.” A checkmark grants no special privileges. Profiles are ineligible if they are NSFW or primarily engage in NSFW communities.
For now, Reddit is manually verifying profiles but plans to use a third-party process in the future.
This exploration of verification coincides with co-founder Alexis Ohanian’s reboot of the social aggregator Digg. Digg’s founders have expressed concern about bots and AI agents flooding the internet and want to create a space for human connection. They are looking into zero-knowledge proofs as a potential method to verify users are human.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is also exploring ways to verify humanity online. His project, World, is expected to release an app focused on keeping out bots.