Facebook Will Require Page Admins to Submit Additional Authorization

Facebook announced they would require further verification from administrators of popular Facebook pages in the United States. The move is done to ensure an unwanted third party does not run Facebook pages. The “Page Publishing Authorization” will require a Page manager to set up two-factor authentication to secure their account. The manager will also need to verify his location. If the manager does not follow through with the new policy, he will not be able to add posts to the page until the authorization is submitted.

By setting up this new authorization process, Facebook is attempting to increase the transparency and integrity of their site. In the past year, Facebook has come under scrutiny due to a number of controversies. One such controversy, which earned Facebook a congressional hearing, involved the sale of users’ data to political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. Sometime after the Cambridge Analytica Scandal, it was also discovered that Facebook gathered data from Android phones without user knowledge. These events, along with allegations of fake news and censorship, has caused a decrease in public trust for the social media platform. Nonetheless, the new authorization process shows the company’s intent to regain users’ confidence.