Instagram and Facebook to get paid-for verification
Meta is testing a subscription service that will allow Instagram and Facebook users to pay for verification, Mark Zuckerberg announced on Instagram on Sunday.
"Meta Verified" starts at $11.99 a month online or $14.99 for iOS, and the company will start rolling it out in Australia and New Zealand this week, with "more countries coming soon."
The service also offers additional benefits: additional protection against identity theft and direct access to customer service.
To avoid fake accounts, customers seeking a blue badge must present government-issued identification that matches their profile name and picture. Users must be over 18 years of age to be eligible.
"This new feature is designed to improve the reliability and security of our services," Zuckerberg wrote on Instagram.
In its statement, Meta clarified that there will be no changes to accounts that have already been verified. Previously, the review was intended for "true and significant" users.
"We're redefining the meaning of the blue badge with a focus on authenticity so we can extend the reach of recognition to more people," said a Meta spokesperson. We're showing follower counts in more places so people can see which accounts stand out among accounts with the same name.
Meta joins other platforms like Discord, Reddit, and YouTube, which have their own subscription-based model.
Twitter relaunched its authentication subscription service, Twitter Blue, in December. This forced us to remove this feature after fake "verified" accounts surfaced. Tick options are now different colors to differentiate between accounts. Businesses see a gold check, government agencies and other organizations see a gray check, and individuals, famous or not, see a blue check.
Twitter Blue is $11 per month for iOS and Android subscribers. It's part of owner Elon Musk's bid to grow his subscription business after buying the platform for $44 billion.