Understanding Verification on Mastodon: How to Get Verified

Understanding Verification on Mastodon: How to Get Verified
Picture by Phoenix Paulina Schmid / Canva

Mastodon offers a different approach to verification compared to mainstream social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook. Instead of relying on a centralized authority to issue verification badges, Mastodon allows users to verify themselves through a open, decentralized and transparent process. Here’s how it works and what you need to know.

How Verification Works on Mastodon

Unlike corporate social media, which can verify an Account with a centralized team, Mastodon doesn’t offer blue check marks or official verification programs. Instead, verification on Mastodon is based on proving ownership of a website or another social media profile.

Mastodon uses a simple and open standard to confirm your identity. This process involves linking to your Mastodon profile from a personal website or page that you control.

Steps to Get Verified on Mastodon:

  1. Edit Your Profile – Go to your Mastodon profile settings and add your website URL in the designated fields.
  2. Add a Verified Link – On your website, create a link back to your Mastodon profile. This link must include the rel="me" attribute. If you want to verify with your GitHub account this is easy as GitHub profile pages have the rel="me" attribute automatically included with all links.
  3. Automatic Verification – Once Mastodon detects the link with the rel="me" attribute, your website link will appear with a green checkmark in your profile. This depends on the performance of your instance and there maybe the case that the link isn't verified at an instant.

You could even add a link tag in the head of your web page if you can have access to it or can inject code into it. The important part is that it has the rel="me" attribute and is accessible without Javascript.

Why This Approach?

This decentralized verification method ensures that verification is based on actual ownership rather than corporate approval. It’s a transparent, self-authenticated process that gives users control over their identity.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

If your verification isn’t working, check the following:

  • Ensure the link to your Mastodon profile includes rel="me".
  • Make sure the URL exactly matches the one in your Mastodon profile.
  • If using a CMS like WordPress, verify that it doesn’t strip out the rel="me" attribute.

Final Thoughts

Mastodon’s verification system is a great example of how decentralized platforms empower users. While it may not provide a traditional blue checkmark, it offers a reliable way to prove identity without reliance on a central authority. By following these steps, you can easily verify your presence on Mastodon and establish trust with your followers and other users.

Take control of your online identity and let the Fediverse know you’re the real deal! ✅

If you want to hear more from me you can find me in the Fediverse at @gelbphoenix@social.gelbphoenix.de (Mastodon) or @gelbphoenix@gram.social (Pixelfed).