Meta rolled out several new features this July to improve Facebook’s user experience. The biggest news is a fresh Facebook Verified badge for real people. This badge confirms a user’s identity using a quick facial recognition selfie. It’s designed to prove you’re a real human, not a bot or fake account.
The process takes just a few minutes. You take a selfie, and Meta’s AI checks it against your existing profile pictures. If you qualify, the verified badge appears on your profile. This check mark will show up across Facebook Dating, Marketplace, Groups, and other services. Meta stresses this badge only confirms your identity. It does not mean endorsement or trustworthiness. And it’s free.
To get the badge, users must be 18 or older and follow Facebook’s community standards. It won’t be available for Pages or ProMode accounts. Facebook is slowly rolling out the badge starting Monday in select markets. The plan is to expand it globally soon.
New Apps for Sellers and Storefronts
Alongside the Verified badge, Meta launched two new apps aimed at people who sell frequently on Facebook Marketplace. The first one is called Seller. It lets users manage listings, message buyers, and see how items perform. Seller syncs directly with Marketplace, keeping everything connected.
The Seller app has a home section showing actions needing attention. It offers a dedicated listing page powered by Meta AI, helping sellers create listings faster. Bulk listing lets users add many items at once. It also includes a unified inbox and performance insights. Seller is available now in the U.S. for iOS and Android users aged 18 and up. A web version is being tested.
Meta also introduced Storefront, a more professional sales platform linked to Marketplace. Storefront offers AI-powered listing creation, inventory management, and sales tools. Like Seller, it syncs existing listings and messages with Marketplace. The goal is to provide a better experience for serious sellers, helping them organize and grow their businesses.
Marketplace’s Big Numbers and AI Plans
Facebook Marketplace turns ten this year. It hosts over 430 million monthly listings and has more than 1.1 billion active users. That makes it one of the largest online selling platforms worldwide. Meta clearly wants to tap into this huge audience and make selling easier and more trustworthy.
Meta plans to add more AI features to Seller soon. These tools will help automate tasks like writing descriptions and searching through Facebook groups. This should save sellers time and boost sales efficiency.
Google Joins with Selfie Video Login
While Meta focuses on identity and sales, Google launched a new login option using selfie videos. This feature lets users sign into their Google accounts with a short video instead of a password. Setting it up requires a camera-enabled device. If no camera is available, users get a QR code to scan with their phone.
During setup and every login, Google asks users to turn their head in specific ways for verification. Google encrypts these videos and uses them only for sign-in. Users can delete their selfie videos from their accounts whenever they want.
These updates from Meta and Google show a clear push to make online identity more secure and sales more efficient. With AI-powered tools and new verification methods, both companies aim to build trust and convenience for millions of users.
Based on
- Meta launches new Facebook Verified badge for actual, real humans — engadget.com
- Facebook launches a dedicated Marketplace app for sellers, adds a free verification system | TechCrunch — techcrunch.com
- Meta Launches A Storefront Platform Through Facebook Marketplace — engadget.com
- Google Adds Selfie Video As A Log-In Option — engadget.com
