Why Myra verifies every profile before anyone can see it

On many apps, verification is optional, and a badge is a bonus. On Myra it is the starting point. No profile is shown to anyone until the person behind it has passed a live selfie check. Here is why we made that choice, and what it does and does not mean.

Fake profiles cost everyone

Fake and impersonated profiles waste time, damage trust and, at their worst, are used for scams and harassment. When people cannot be sure a profile is real, they become guarded, reply less and leave. Verifying everyone before they are visible removes a large part of that problem at the source, and it means every conversation starts with a basic level of trust.

What the check involves

During sign-up you take a short live selfie. Our verification provider checks that it is a live person rather than a photo of a photo, and compares it with the photos on your profile. If everything matches, your profile goes live. If the result is unclear, a member of our team reviews it.

Your photos are also checked before they are shown to anyone, to keep out images that break our guidelines.

What happens to your selfie

The selfie is used only for verification. It is never shown to other members, and it is deleted as soon as a decision is made, unless the law requires us to keep it for longer. We record only that the check passed or failed, and when.

The 18-plus rule

Myra is for adults aged 18 to 45. Date of birth is checked at sign-up, and if someone enters a date that makes them under 18, the phone number used is permanently blocked from creating an account. Members can also report anyone who appears to be under 18, and such reports hide the profile immediately while we review it.

What verification does not mean

Verification tells you that a person is real and matches their photos. It does not tell you whether they are kind, honest about their intentions or right for you. That is why Myra also asks everyone to state their intent, why intent is a hard rule for introductions, and why safety tools such as block, report and Share my date are available on every screen.

The badge means one thing

The champagne verified badge on Myra means a real, passed verification. It cannot be bought, it is never given as a reward and it is not a status symbol. Everyone you meet on Myra has one, because everyone you meet has been verified.