What You Should Know About Instagram's New 'Selfie' Verification Requirement.

Instagram has launched a new verification requirement and many users are nervous about it. But there really is no need to fear.  The selfie verification requirement has been put in place as an added measure of security against the many importers or fake accounts that emerge on the platform. Ultimately, this means the measure is in place to protect all authentic users and by extension make the platform a safer place for everyone.
 
Surprisingly, despite the meticulous verification process used by Instagram, many fake or bot accounts still end up with that highly sought after blue tick. Additionally, the platform has discovered over the years that many of its user accounts do not actually belong to a real person or entity. In other words they are fake accounts. A number of users use these fake accounts to advance their popularity and digital clout on the platform giving them an unfair advantage over genuine accounts. This has driven the platform to constantly seek out new ways to confirm the identities of its users. The latest is the selfie submission.
 
Instagram’s POV
To truly understand the video selfie requirement you need to see things from Instagram’s point of view. Creators of fake or bot pages constantly conceptualize new ways to circumvent the already meticulous verification process. They manipulate pictures to reflect the images they want to reflect. They produce thousands of fake followers. They have even been able to design and display fake Instagram verification badges.
 
Who Will Need to Submit a Selfie Video?
Users who will be asked to submit a selfie for verification purposes are those who are just signing up for an Instagram account or those whose accounts seem unauthentic. Many of the platforms existing users whose accounts are suspected of being bot accounts have been required to submit selfie videos. A suspected bot or fake account will remain inaccessible until the selfie video is uploaded and approved.
 
How Is the Selfie Video Submitted?
You cannot record your own video selfie to upload. This is part of Instagram’s effort to ensure authenticity and eliminate edited submissions. For the video selfie, you’ll be required to respond to a prompt inviting you to take the video selfie. Typically this happens as you attempt to sign in. For new Instagram accounts it will likely be part of the account creation process. As the recording progresses you will also be required to turn your head in different directions so that all angles of your face can be captured.  
 
What Does Instagram Do With Your Selfie Video?
Worried about your video selfie falling into the wrong hands? There’s good news. Instagram does not retain the video selfie. According to their platform it is deleted after thirty days. Additionally, the platform assures users that it will not collect any form od biometric data during the video. In any event, the platform has a vested interested in protecting your sensitive data like selfie videos.
 
The video selfie will undergo a human review to determine how genuine your account is. Instagram employees will review your video to determine how real or ‘human like’ you appear before giving your account the authentication nod. Once the video passes this authentication step you will be notified and access to your account will be restored. But if the video does not prove you to be human, you will be allowed another opportunity to resubmit.
 
Hackers and scammers are already coming up with ways to circumvent the new video selfie requirement. This means that eventually, Instagram may need to institute a new verification requirement. This may be a modification to the selfie video requirement or an altogether new verification requirement.

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