[b]Hello SW members! :) Thank you for the feedback thus far regarding our new [u]User Verification feature[/u], and thank you also to those who have tried out this feature![/b]
We understand completely why some users may not feel completely happy with this feature, specifically [b]those who prefer not to have a public image of themselves on SW, yet would like to have the "Verified" icon appearing next to their username[/b].
This feature [i](the ☑ badge)[/i] was originally/mostly intended mostly to combat the ever growing issue of users being tricked and "catfished" on SW, by those claiming to be someone who they are not (sharing fake/stolen photos).
Those who post (or share privately) images of themselves (or images claiming to be them) can use this feature to help verify that they are indeed the person in those images.
This portion of our verification feature [i](the badge)[/i] was intended for users who are more public about themselves (photos), and not really aimed at those who enjoy using SW anonymously.
(The other half of this feature, the initial verification photo, is mainly for security/account recovery purposes).
We do understand that it still can seem unfair to many other loyal users, as they too cannot have such a badge without being public about their appearance.
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The SW Staff has not yet come to a conclusion regarding if and how we can improve this issue, however, we would like to put forward a potential idea.
[b][u]Would you prefer if SW offered different modes of the Verification Status (Badge)?[/u][/b]
[b]• [u]Publicly Verified[/u][/b] - Verification Photo visible to all SW Members
[b]• [u]Visible to other Verified Users[/u][/b] - Verification Photo only visible to other users who have also verified up to this level.
[b]• [u]Visible to SW Staff Only[/u][/b] - Verification Photo only visible to SW Staff.
[c=#BF0000][b]Please note that with each decreasing level, users will have less ability to verify whether or not a user is the person being claimed in their shared images.[/b][/c]
[i]For example:[/i] [quote]You, a SW member, may be chatting with another user who has the Verified Grey Badge [i](Visible to SW Staff Only)[/i].
We the SW Staff will not be able to always monitor whether or not this user is sharing true images of themselves (nor do we monitor what users share privately), after having already been verified. Neither would you or the rest of SW members have access to their "Staff Only" verification photo, to be able to cross-check their identity.
In this case, members would need to use more discretion when it comes to trusting who the user claims to be in their shared photos (since you are unable to see the already approved verification photos).
This is a concern to us, especially for new users who may join the site, and could be misled regarding the authenticity of certain other SW users.[/quote]
[b]We would like to hear your thoughts and feedback!
What do you think about this idea regarding the various Verification Badge modes?[/b]
Do you fully understand how and why the other more private modes of the verification photo (while having a badge) can be potentially used to mislead members?
Please share your opinions, suggestions, thoughts on this new Verification feature and how we may be able to improve it.
Thank you, [i][c=#005E2F]-The SW Team[/c][/i]
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[c=#004A59][big]Updates:[/big][/c]
[u]Regarding the option of having [b]"Friends Only see your Verification Photo"[/b].[/u]
This defeats a lot of the purpose of this verification feature, and is about equivalent of using the "Staff Only" option, while posting the image also to your "Friends Only" album.
The issue with this idea is that someone can easily have:
[b]• 0 Friends. • All Friends are alternate accounts of their own.[/b]
It is not a useful way of adding trust to someone's verification.
The reason why we opt to have other Verified users be able to see the photo (as the 2nd option), is that there is more validity in this method, as other users who are not directly connected to you, and are verified/trusted themselves, can also verify your own photo identity for the rest of the site.
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[b][u]Regarding Not having other options of Account Recovery or Verification[/u][/b]
We [b][u]will[/u][/b] be looking into having other options for recovering your SW account in case of loss, such as: [b]Recovery Questions, Secondary Email Address, Phone Number[/b], etc...
Please keep in mind that we cannot develop everything at once. :)
Now that we have more feedback and new concerns from users, we can address such issues.
[c=#800000][Note: This was never a major concern to users before we released this new photo verification feature today, so we are a bit surprised that some are very upset for us not yet having other recovery options][/c] :)
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I think people are way overacting because of this. It's not difficult to [i]just NOT do it[/i] if you don't like it. There are more important information than a face and I see members giving it so easily in pubic posts. As to this creating an elite system, the same could've been argued about VIPs. This just proves that just about anything can create drama.
@Miram The problem I have with this is how it was implemented. By creating the idea that some users are more trusted and others less trusted it's helping creating the elite system. And it's still not what people were really asking for.
@Miram Not doing it. Makes a (imo) vital feature. Inaccessible.
Paying money (like I did) doesn't make me more [i]trustworthy[/i]. It gives me more features, sure, but for me it was a way to support the site (and now it's a way to have a heart next to me name, though I wish i could choose the colour).
Verification is much more specifically about being trustworthy. People might refuse to talk to me, or worse, insult me or harass me, because I won't verify.
@Miram Wait until they get the announcement that the free coffee machines are being removed from the member break rooms and being replaced with vending machines. Talk about all hell breaking loose.
@RoboChloe Verification is no different from VIP, it's a privilege not a right and both garner hate from others. If it's not the issue then why did you bring it up with your explanation?
@Miram It's simple, it shouldn't be about trust at all. That removes the problem of which words to use when you don't try to make it about trust. Verification is about who's really male and female. If people want to show their pictures are really theirs that's their problem and they already had the means to solve it.
Don't make verification as something more than what it is and there won't be a problem.
@MeisterAndrew [quote] Verification is about who's really male and female. If people want to show their pictures are really theirs that's their problem and they already had the means to solve it.[/quote]
The option isn't about that. It's about members who are using pictures of themselves verifying those pictures belong to them. It's not just about the gender.
Whether or not it proves [b]trustworthiness[/b], I can agree it would depend on other members and there needn't an option about that specifically. Because even if you are using your pictures, it doesn't show you are trustworthy.
But there are many who prefer to be sure you aren't lying or taking someone else's and it's a nice improvement. I don't see it as a problem. I see it a solution despite the clear discomfort most people display.
@Miram It's a solution that wasn't asked for. What we wanted was a way to verify gender without giving up privacy. This doesn't do that and it offers nothing new. As I already said you can verify your pictures belong to you with your albums and don't need a formal system for that.
@MeisterAndrew You didn't ask for it. I and few others appreciate it and I don't think it should be a problem for you. You can still request for a different gender verification option.
[quote] you can verify your pictures belong to you with your albums and don't need a formal system for that.[/quote]
The admins stepping in to confirm your pictures are yours is more credible than that. Just like you would like them to step in to confirm your gender when you can very much do that on your own.
Easier to learn to live with different preferences instead of pushing yours as better than others. You can have whatever you wish and they can have whatever they wish.
@Miram We didn't ask for it, we asked for gender verification. Why do need admins to step in to prove your pictures are real? You don't. This isn't what was asked for and no, I can't verify my gender on my own, not while remaining private and anonymous which is the whole point of verification you are missing.
I think you mean to provide a picture proof exclusively to the admins, that is something they are considering for the current verification system and they are discussing different modes. One mode where only admins have access to the verification picture.
[quote]Why do need admins to step in to prove your pictures are real? [/quote]
Because it is more credible that way and that too can be done privately. Just like you need the admins to verify your gender.
The question is why do you need to cancel this option even though it doesn't affect you?
@MeisterAndrew I actually responded to you about that.
[quote] Whether or not it proves trustworthiness, I can agree it would depend on other members and there needn't an option about that specifically. Because even if you are using your pictures, it doesn't show you are trustworthy. [/quote]
You will be trusted and untrusted with and without this badge. Because people have different opinions about different people and their worthiness. Is it fair to attempt to control what others think of you by limiting someone else's options or taking them away?
This point really doesn't explain why you need to remove the option rather than improving it such as by a different choice of wording ,and simply requesting your preference to be added. Maybe it does but it poses some real issues concerning boundaries and it's not satisfactory to me.
Why isn't gender verification taken with the same grain of salt since it means you would be verified and others won't?
Will you really feel more trusted if I cancel the badge next to me verifying my own picture? And is that feeling more important than my feelings' and others?
