Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has announced a new paid subscription service that allows users to pay for blue tick verification. The service, called Meta Verified, will cost $11.99 a month on the web and $14.99 for iPhone users. This week marks the official launch of the subscription service in Australia and New Zealand. Any individual user can pay for the verification, but the service is not yet available for businesses.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, the move will improve security and authenticity on both social media apps. The paid subscription service would give users a blue badge, increased visibility for their posts, protection from impersonators and easier access to customer service. It is important to note that this change will not affect previously verified accounts, although smaller users who become verified through the paid feature will see an increase in visibility.
Meta told the BBC that Instagram and Facebook usernames will have to match a government supplied ID document to be granted verification. Users will also need to have a profile picture that includes their face. The company noted that this service is not yet available for businesses. The move comes after Elon Musk introduced the premium Twitter Blue subscription in November 2022.
Although Mr. Zuckerberg has assured that the feature will be available “soon,” Meta has not provided a specific timeline for the rollout of its paid subscription service to other countries. Similar to Meta, other social media platforms like Reddit, YouTube, and Discord have also implemented subscription-based models.
Despite facing initial criticism from the tech industry, Meta seems to have taken a cue from Elon Musk’s introduction of a paid tier to Twitter. The recent launch of Apple’s optional feature that halts online tracking has demonstrated that users are willing to pay for privacy and security, given the mounting concerns over data privacy. To address these issues and possibly monetize its user base, Meta has introduced a new paid subscription service for Instagram and Facebook that allows users to pay for a blue tick verification, addressing concerns around authenticity and security on the platforms. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether users will be willing to pay extra for enhanced features and protections, as is the case with any paid feature.
