Reddit begins testing verified profiles for public figures

Popular forum discussion platform Reddit is taking its first steps into profile verification, launching "a limited alpha test" that adds a grey checkmark beside the usernames of notable people and organisations.

The announcement comes as Reddit said in a statement this week that Australia's under-16 social media ban was "legally erroneous".

At a time when verification symbols across major platforms have become tied to paid subscriptions, Reddit is steering back toward a more traditional model: confirming that public figures are who they claim to be in an effort to curb misinformation.

"This feature is designed to help redditors understand who they’re engaging with in moments when verification matters, whether it’s an expert or celebrity hosting an AMA, a journalist reporting news, or a brand sharing information," Reddit wrote in a blog post.

The company stressed that pseudonymity remains central to its culture and that verification is voluntary.

Rather than signalling status or prestige, the label is meant to "add clarity for redditors and ease the burden on moderators who often verify users manually."

The platform is currently piloting the feature with a small group of profiles, and even with a broader rollout, some well-known users may not participate.

During this initial phase, checkmarks won’t grant special privileges and accounts that are NSFW or active primarily in NSFW spaces will be excluded.

The company is currently verifying these profiles manually, but has plans to move to a third-party process in the future.