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I’ll take a little blue checkmark, please

A ProPublica investigation reveals the specifics of a scheme that allows social media users to buy trust instead of earning it.   

Updated: September 7, 2022

Issue overview A recent ProPublica investigation revealed a massive Instagram account verification scheme that allowed scores of users to obtain a coveted blue checkmark. That verification symbol, according to Meta, which owns Instagram, “means Instagram has confirmed that an account is the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity or brand it represents.” The article […]...

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