Meta launches paid subscription service for account verification on Facebook and Instagram

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has launched a new subscription service called "Meta Verified," which allows users to verify their accounts for $11.99 per month on the web and $14.99 per month on mobile. The service offers a blue verified badge, increased visibility on the platforms, priority customer support, and other features. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, stated in an Instagram update that the feature is currently being rolled out in Australia and New Zealand, with plans to expand to other countries soon.

To become Meta Verified, users must meet minimum activity requirements, be 18 years of age or older, and submit a government-issued ID that matches their name and photo on Facebook or Instagram. While the service is similar to Twitter's Blue subscription, which costs $8 per month, Meta notes that it will not change the verification status of accounts that have been verified under the company's previous requirements.

Users who sign up for the service will receive exclusive stickers for Stories and Reels, as well as 100 free stars per month, which can be used to tip creators on Facebook. However, businesses are not currently eligible for the Meta Verified badge, and users cannot change their profile name, username, birthday, or profile photo without going through the verification process again.

Meta aims to expand the meaning of the verified badge and make it more accessible to creators, businesses, and the wider community. The service will cost $19.99 AUD on the web and $24.99 AUD on mobile in Australia, and $23.99 NZD on web and $29.99 NZD on mobile in New Zealand. The higher cost on iOS and Android is likely to offset the commission that Apple and Google take on in-app purchases.

The service has been in the news recently due to rumors that surfaced earlier this month about paid verification in Instagram's source code. While the Meta Verified subscription service shares similarities with Twitter Blue, it requires users to submit government IDs and offers additional safeguards against fake accounts.

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