EXCLUSIVE

Australians will be among the first in the world to apply for verification on Instagram as the social media giant platform rolls out a number of new features aimed at increasing transparency and engagement.

Starting from 2am Wednesday, Australian users on an Apple iOS operating system will be able to request the holy grail of social media credibility – the blue tick.

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(Instagram)

(Traditionally celebrities like Kim Kardashian were given verified badges to prove the authenticity of the profile holder. Image: Instagram)

Instagram said it was rolling out the feature locally to clear the air around its verification process which had become the centrepiece of several conspiracy theories including paid-for blue badges and fake influencer accounts.

"Our community asked us for more transparency around this issue, and with today’s announcement we’re sharing clear details about verification requirements and eligibility criteria,” Instagram’s strategic partner manager APAC, Nicci Meek, told nine.com.au in a statement.

"This new feature will allow our community the opportunity to apply for verification themselves, and understand the process behind getting verified on Instagram. We believe opening up verification to the public will also work towards safeguarding our community."

Traditionally "blue ticks" – technically known as a "verified badge" – have been awarded to celebrities, athletes, musicians and notable "influencers" by Instagram staff to avoid copy-cat accounts.

Now for Australians they can be accessed from Instagram via the settings, although those on an Android operating systems will have the feature rolled out in several weeks.

Upon requesting verification, users will then have to prove their identity to Instagram by providing their username, full name and photo identification.

To be verified, Australian accounts must meet a number of requirements. Instagram will assess the profile for notability, authenticity, uniqueness and completeness.

(Supplied)

(The three-stage process some users will be able to take to have their profile verified. Image: Supplied)

Alongside its verification testing, Instagram will also launch a new interactive "questions sticker" inside its "Stories" function.

Using short, 15-second long photos or videos, Instagram Stories allows users to share updates from their daily life without permanently adding content to their Instagram profile. Instagram Stories – which can be saved – are automatically deleted after 24 hours.

The new questions sticker feature will allow followers and friends to submit questions to another user via the Stories function.

According to Instagram, the questions sticker is an easy way to have a conversation over Instagram without having to pre-upload a picture or a video.

"With the questions sticker, you can encourage followers, community and friends to ask you about your day, and they can respond with questions such as, 'Thoughts on tomorrow night’s NRL State of Origin Grand Finale … Blues or Maroons for the win?'," the spokeswoman said.

"This makes starting conversations, getting recommendations, or just generally getting your friend's thoughts easier and more fun."

(Supplied)

(With the 'questions sticker', users will be able to engage in conversations over Stories without having to upload an image or video. Image: Supplied)

In August Will Easton, managing director of Facebook Australia and New Zeland (who own Instagram), said nearly half of the Australian population was using Instagram.

"We’re thrilled that the Instagram community in Australia has grown to nine million monthly actives," said Easton.

"From teen entrepreneur Morgan Hipworth of Bistro Morgan to iconic Aussie brands like Qantas and the very first AFL women’s team, we are inspired by the innovative ways of using Instagram to build their communities and strengthen relationships with people they care about."

Globally Instagram boasts more than 800 million monthly users, making it the second largest social media platform in the world.

Facebook remains the most popular with an average of 2.07 billion monthly active users, accounting for more than a third of the world's population.