Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, follows Twitter’s lead with the introduction of “Meta Verified” subscription service. Initially available in Australia and New Zealand, this service promises exclusive features for discerning users, with global expansion plans.
For a nominal fee of $11.99 per month (or $14.99 on iOS), subscribers will be granted access to an exclusive blue badge and direct customer support. The company has deemed this a “gradual test,” designed to enhance authenticity and security across its services. To qualify for Meta Verified, users must furnish a government-issued ID to validate their identity, and legal names must be utilized on profile pages. Subscribers will receive additional protection against impersonation and spurious accounts.
While the service will soon be available in the United States, other countries are yet to be confirmed. It is worth noting that Facebook and Instagram accounts must be separately enrolled in Meta Verified, necessitating a minimum monthly expenditure of $24 for those who want blue badges on both sites. However, Meta plans to introduce bundled subscriptions down the line.
In describing the new feature, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, asserted that it will augment the authenticity and security of the company’s services. The impact of this move on the user experience remains to be seen, but it is evident that Meta is following Twitter’s lead in monetizing its services for power users.
