After Twitter, Meta also geared to sell paid verifications for Facebook and Instagram
We hope you have some energy left from trashing Twitter and Elon Musk for charging for the verified blue tick, because Meta is turning to the same infamous model for both Facebook and Instagram.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is introducing a new subscription service called Meta Verified. According to posts made by Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, the service will initially be available in Australia and New Zealand, with plans to expand to other countries in the future.
For a monthly fee of $11.99 (or $14.99 for iOS users), subscribers can obtain a blue badge on their profile, indicating that their account has been verified by Meta. In addition to the badge, subscribers will have direct access to customer support, which can provide assistance with account-related issues.
The company has described this as a “gradual test,” suggesting that it may make changes to the subscription service based on user feedback. The blue badge and customer support features are aimed at enhancing user trust and safety, particularly for individuals and organizations that may be more vulnerable to impersonation or scams.
“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,” Zuckerberg wrote in the post.
No changes to already verified accounts
People who already have the blue verified tick on their accounts may be in luck as Meta has no plans to charge them for the premium verified service.
“As we test and learn, there will be no changes to accounts on Instagram and Facebook that are already verified based on prior requirements, including authenticity and notability,” revealed Meta in a press statement.
“Long term, we want to build a subscription offering that’s valuable to everyone, including creators, businesses and our community at large. As part of this vision, we are evolving the meaning of the verified badge so we can expand access to verification and more people can trust the accounts they interact with are authentic,” it added.
What will you get with Meta Verified?
With Meta Verified, you’ll get:
- A verified badge, confirming you’re the real you and that your account has been authenticated with a government ID.
- More protection from impersonation with proactive account monitoring for impersonators who might target people with growing online audiences.
- Help when you need it with access to a real person for common account issues.
- Increased visibility and reach with prominence in some areas of the platform– like search, comments and recommendations.
- Exclusive features to express yourself in unique ways.
In the past, Meta has historically granted verification badges to high-profile individuals such as politicians, executives, journalists, and organizations to establish their authenticity.
At present, businesses cannot apply for Meta Verified, and the company has indicated that users will need to undergo the verification process anew if they wish to modify certain aspects of their profile, including their profile name, username, date of birth, or profile photo.