It is Instagram's velvet rope. Users who want to obtain Instagram verification – one of the site 's coveted blue ticks – are paying thousands of dollars to get the account on the black market . Anonymous insiders team up with Twitter and Facebook users , who secretly fill out the required submission forms before attempting to verify the account themselves . The phenomenon is regarded as an open secret among Instagram users , who have found that gaining verification through the proper process can be elusive . Advertisers spend $ 1bn annually on influencer marketing on Twitter .
Users who want to obtain Instagram verification – one of the site 's coveted blue ticks – are paying thousands of dollars to get the account on the black market . Anonymous insiders team up with Twitter and Facebook users , who secretly fill out the required submission forms before attempting to verify the account themselves . The phenomenon is regarded as an open secret among Instagram users , who have found that gaining verification through the proper process can be elusive . Advertisers spend $ 1bn annually on influencer marketing on Twitter .