Content source verification and authentication using linked accounts

A system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• one or more computer-readable mediums storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a request to add a first prospective user of an online service to an authenticated group;
• initiating an approval process to add the first prospective user to the authenticated group, the approval process enabling members of the authenticated group to either approve or deny the request;
• receiving a set of responses from the members of the authenticated group, the set of responses indicating whether each member selected to approve or deny the request;
• determining an approval score based on the set of responses;
• in response to determining that the approval score meets or exceeds a threshold approval score, transmitting an invite message to the first prospective user, the invite message enabling the first prospective user to join the authenticated group;
• receiving a subsequent request to add a second prospective user of the online service to the authenticated group;
• in response to receiving the subsequent request, initiating a second approval process to add the second prospective user to the authenticated group, the second approval process enabling the members of the authenticated group to either approve or deny the subsequent request;
• receiving a second set of responses from the members of the authenticated group, the second set of responses indicating whether each member selected to approve or deny the subsequent request;
• determining a second approval score based on the second set of responses;
• and
• in response to determining that the second approval score is less than the threshold approval score, denying the subsequent request to add the second prospective user to the authenticated group.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computer processors of one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a request to add a first prospective user of an online service to an authenticated group;
• initiating an approval process to add the first prospective user to the authenticated group, the approval process enabling members of the authenticated group to either approve or deny the request;
• receiving a set of responses from the members of the authenticated group, the set of responses indicating whether each member selected to approve or deny the request;
• determining an approval score based on the set of responses;
• in response to determining that the approval score meets or exceeds a threshold approval score, transmitting an invite message to the first prospective user, the invite message enabling the first prospective user to join the authenticated group;
• receiving a subsequent request to add a second prospective user of the online service to the authenticated group;
• in response to receiving the subsequent request, initiating a second approval process to add the second prospective user to the authenticated group, the second approval process enabling the members of the authenticated group to either approve or deny the subsequent request;
• receiving a second set of responses from the members of the authenticated group, the second set of responses indicating whether each member selected to approve or deny the subsequent request;
• determining a second approval score based on the second set of responses;
• and
• in response to determining that the second approval score is less than the threshold approval score, denying the subsequent request to add the second prospective user to the authenticated group.