Meta Platforms will be rolling out a paid subscription service on Facebook and Instagram including a verification badge that authenticates the account with a government ID and provides increased protection and visibility, according an official statement.
The feature, called Meta Verified, will be tested in Australia and New Zealand later this week. Meta says it is planning to launch it worldwide soon.
“We want to make it easier for people, especially creators, to establish a presence so they can focus on building their communities on Instagram or Facebook,” says Meta.
The development comes after Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk introduced similar paid verification services. Twitter Blue, which was launched in November 2022, specifically targeted businesses and individuals holding the blue checkmark. It allows subscribers access to premium features such as Edit Tweet and is priced at $8 a month (charges may differ according to countries).
Meta’s paid subscription service, however, is only available for individuals. According to Meta, the service offers a verified badge to confirm that the account is real and has been authenticated with a government ID; proactive account monitoring for impersonators who might target users with growing number of followers; access to a company representative for account issues; prominence in terms of search, comments and recommendations; and other exclusive features.
The monthly subscription will be available for $11.99 on the web and $14.99 on iOS and Android.
“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,” says Meta. “Long term, we want to build a subscription offering that’s valuable to everyone, including creators, businesses and our community at large.”
Meta is evolving the meaning of the verified badge to expand access to verification so that more people can trust the accounts they interact with, the statement adds.
To be eligible for the subscription bundle, the accounts must belong to users older than 18 years and have prior posting history. Applicants will then be required to submit a government ID matching the profile name and photo of the Facebook or Instagram account the subscription is being sought for. The services will include what Meta calls “proactive monitoring” for account impersonation.
It has yet to be seen how Meta’s paid subscription plans pan out, given the mayhem that had erupted following Twitter’s launch of Twitter Blue. The platform witnessed a sharp rise in the number of imposters, who sent out misleading tweets and cost some businesses millions of dollars. The services were rolled back and remained briefly unavailable before they were launched again.
