Meta has rolled out a new subscription service called Meta Verified, that will offer Instagram and Facebook users coveted verified blue tick marks. Users in Australia and New Zealand can subscribe to the service later this week for $11.99 (Roughly Rs 990) on the web and $14.99 (roughly Rs 1,240)on iOS and Android.
The speculated paid verification subscription service announcement came just months after Twitter’s overhaul of its subscription service, Twitter Blue.
Meta Verified
Meta says the feature will help users, especially creators to establish their presence. “We’re testing Meta Verified, a new subscription bundle that includes account verification with impersonation protections and access to increased visibility and support,” Meta says in its blog. The company says Meta Verified will give users increased visibility and reach.
Apparently, the service is inspired by Twitter Blue, Billionaire Elon Musk’s brainchild. However, there are some fundamental differences. Meta has made it clear that the verification badge will be provided after the account is authenticated with the user’s government ID.
Verifying accounts using government IDs is a step that Twitter has skipped while ensuring the “authenticity” of an account. This also led to a surge of fake accounts getting verified when the service was initially launched.
Musk took over Twitter for $44 billion last year, following which the Blue Bird has managed to garner regular headlines about its weakening content moderation policies and the re-activation of accounts of some controversial celebrities.
Presently, Businesses are not able to apply for Meta Verified. Only users above 18 years of age can apply for verification using a government ID that matches the profile name and photo of the Facebook or Instagram account they’re applying for.
“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,” Meta wrote in its blog post.
The company is planning to roll out Meta Verified soon for other regions.
