Verified User Badges

Better Messages displays verified-user badges next to display names throughout the messenger — in conversation headers, member lists, mini-chat tooltips, and message author labels. The verification status is pulled from your community plugin (BuddyPress, PeepSo, BuddyBoss, Ultimate Member, etc.), so there's no separate database to maintain — verified once in your community plugin, badged everywhere in chat.

What it adds#

Verified badge icon shown beside the user's display name in every messenger surface
Automatic sync from the connected community plugin — no manual badge management
Visible in DMs, group chats, chat rooms, mini-chats, and members directories
Helps users distinguish official accounts, paid members, or trusted contributors at a glance
No additional setting in Better Messages — the integration handles the lookup transparently

How it works#

When Better Messages renders a user item (in a conversation header, a message author label, a recipient picker, or a members directory), it calls the connected community plugin's "is user verified" check. If the plugin reports the user as verified, the badge icon is appended next to the display name.

The badge styling matches your community plugin's visual treatment, so verified users look consistent across the site:

Plugin	Source of verification
BuddyPress	xProfile "Verified" field, or BuddyPress verified user extensions
PeepSo	PeepSo Profile Verification add-on
BuddyBoss	BuddyBoss "Verified Members" feature
Ultimate Member	UM "Verified Users" extension

If multiple community plugins are active, Better Messages uses whichever one declares the user verified — verifying in any one source is enough.

When verification badges matter#

Site type	Why verified badges help
Community / social network	Distinguishes original creators from look-alike accounts
Marketplace (Dokan / WCFM)	Marks officially-vetted vendor accounts vs new sign-ups
LMS	Shows instructors / TAs apart from students at a glance
Membership site	Visually rewards paying members with status
Fan / paid newsletter community	Signals creator accounts vs subscribers

Frequently asked questions#

Can I add a custom verified-badge source from my own plugin?#

Yes — hook the better_messages_is_verified filter, which receives (bool $verified, int $user_id). Return true for any user your plugin considers verified, based on whatever logic you choose (custom user meta, role check, external API, etc.).

What does the badge icon look like?#

The badge is a small checkmark icon rendered next to the user's name. It scales with the surrounding text and respects the messenger's light/dark theme.

Are verified badges shown to non-logged-in users?#

Yes — in chat rooms with guest access, guests see verified badges on participants too. The badge is a visual property of the message author and is rendered for all viewers.

Does verification gate any messenger feature?#

No. Verification is a display-only signal. To gate features by verification, combine the better_messages_is_verified check with the better_messages_can_send_message filter to allow or reject a send based on the sender's verified status.

Why doesn't a verified user show the badge?#

Check that the community plugin's verification field for that user is set correctly, and that the integration declaring verified status is enabled. The plugin reads the verification flag via the better_messages_is_verified filter — make sure that filter is hooked by the integration responsible for verifying users.