‘Obligation to display real name causes problems with Instagram check mark’

Meta requires account holders who pay for a Meta Verified account to display their real name on their profile. That creates problems for account holders who want a check, but want to keep their real identity a secret from the outside world.

Meta Verified

Verification only succeeds if users enter their real name, Techcrunch reports. Meta checks that real name with a passport or other means of identification. From then on, that real name will also be the name associated with the account. This is a problem for sex workers, transgender users and other users who do not want to reveal their real names to the outside world, the site claims.

Meta says it may release the requirements in the future, but doesn’t say if that will happen or when. Meta introduced the checkmark several months ago. It is a subscription: account holders pay a monthly amount and, in addition to the check mark, also receive access to support from people’s company. Users who don’t pay often get no response from a human at a major tech company, even if the account is closed.