Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced today that the company is rolling out Meta Verified on Instagram and Facebook in the US. bills for a monthly amount. Meta Verified costs $11.99 per month on web and $14.99 per month on mobile.
“Meta Verified is rolling out in the US today,” Zuckerberg told the Meta Channel on Instagram on Friday. “You can get a badge, proactive counterfeit protection, and direct access to customer support.”
You can join the waiting list starting today to sign up for the subscription service online. In addition to the monthly contribution, you must be at least 18 years old. You must complete the verification process and provide a government-issued photo ID to confirm your identity before you are approved for a Meta Verified subscription. Two-factor authentication is also required. Meta Verified subscribers cannot change their profile name, photo, username or date of birth unless they are willing to complete the verification process again.
Meta Verified comes with exclusive stickers on Facebook and Instagram Stories and Facebook Reels, along with 100 stars per month on Facebook so you can show your support to other creators.
Image Credits: meta
Meta told AapkaDost in an email that it has seen “good results” from the first test in Australia and New Zealand and is reflecting on some early subscriber feedback. For context, a Meta Verified subscription in Australia and New Zealand includes greater visibility and reach in searches, comments, and recommendations. Meta heard feedback from users saying this offering was confusing, so the company plans to explore the offering further before considering expanding it beyond Australia and New Zealand.
Zuckerberg borrows from Elon Musk’s playbook with the new Meta Verified offering. After Tesla’s CEO took over Twitter last fall, the social network debuted paid verification for $8 a month through its revamped Blue subscription service. Contrary to Twitter’s playbook, users who are already verified on Instagram and Facebook do not have to pay for their verification. Musk has promised to do away with the outdated verification badges, but has not yet done so.
The blue check mark is a coveted symbol on social media platforms, as it was previously only available to public figures such as politicians, actors, musicians, athletes and journalists. Musk has argued against this idea, arguing that blue ticks should be accessible to everyone.
While Meta has opted not to charge its customers for most of its services since its inception, it’s clear that things are changing. It’s worth noting that Meta and Twitter aren’t the only companies to introduce subscription services, as Snap launched its own subscription service last year, converting 2.5 million users into paid customers.
To get started with Meta Verified, you’ll need to navigate to your settings on Instagram or Facebook, then click “Account Center.” If the subscription service is available for your account, you will see “Meta Verified available” under your name and profile picture. Next, you need to select your preferred payment method for your monthly subscription and then complete the verification process.