Instagram is known to have introduced selfie videos to verify new users to reduce spam, fake accounts

Instagram has apparently started using a new method to verify a user’s identity. The social media platform is asking users to take a short selfie video ‘to help confirm that you’re a real person’. This feature may have been introduced to reduce the number of fake or spam accounts on the platform. Instagram Meta (formerly Facebook) owners promise that they won’t collect any biometric data and that the feature will only be used for identity verification and nothing else. Identity verification ideally happens when a new user registers on the platform, so existing users are not required to go through the selfie video recording process.

The first is social media consultant Matt Navarra spot Selfie video verification method on Instagram. As part of this process, Instagram is said to ask users to take a short video of themselves while turning their heads in different directions to confirm that they are indeed real people. The exact description according to the screenshot says, “We need a short video that turns your head in different directions. This helps us confirm that you are real and confirm your identity”.

Once the video is captured, the user will need to send the video to Meta to confirm their identity. The meta, as depicted in the screenshot, makes it clear that this video will never show up on Instagram and will be removed from the servers within 30 days. The company also promises that selfie videos will not be used for facial recognition nor will the company collect biometric data.

As mentioned, the selfie video verification feature seems to only apply to users who create new accounts and existing users do not need to verify their identity yet.

Instagram is also working to bring ability to leave a ‘Like’ on Stories. Currently, users can only react to Stories, which show up in their direct messages. It’s unclear when the Like feature will be publicly announced on Instagram but the developers are said to be working on it.