Meta is testing paid Instagram and Facebook verification called Meta Verified for USD 11.99 per month on the web and USD 14.99 per month on mobile.
Mark Zuckerberg announces the Meta Verified subscription
A “Meta Verified” account would provide users with a verified badge, more exposure on the platforms, priority customer assistance, and other benefits, according to an update from Instagram CEO Mark Zuckerberg. This week, the feature will be available in Australia and New Zealand, with other countries to follow soon.
“This week we’re starting to roll out Meta Verified — a subscription service that lets you verify your account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get direct access to customer support,” Zuckerberg said.
Zuckerberg also added that increasing authenticity and security across all their services is the goal of this new feature.
However, you cannot modify your profile name, username, birthday, or profile photo without going through the verification procedure again, according to Meta, and companies are not yet eligible to apply for a Meta Verified badge.
To become Meta Verified, you must meet minimum activity requirements like a government ID that matches the name and photo you have on Facebook or Instagram, and you should be at least 18 years old or older.
You can avail yourself of this feature by paying a monthly subscription of USD 11.99 (or around PHP 650) on the web and USD 14.99 (or around PHP 824) for iOS and Android. The higher price on iOS and Android is most likely an attempt to reimburse for the fee that both Apple and Google charge for in-app purchases.
The new service is similar to Elon Musk’s $8/month Twitter Blue, but Meta points out that it won’t affect accounts that have already been verified using the previous standards, such as notability and authenticity.
Moreover, those who sign up for the service will also receive 100 free stars each month, which can be used as virtual cash to tip Facebook creators, in addition to exclusive stickers for Stories and Reels.
According to the blog post of Meta, “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.”
As of writing, there’s no information on when this new Meta Verified feature will be released in the Philippines.
Source: Meta
