Meta introduces subscription-based verified badges for Facebook and Instagram users to increase authenticity and security. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch of the new service, called Meta Verified, in a recent Facebook post. Subscribers who verify their accounts with a government ID will receive the blue verified badge. Currently available in Australia and New Zealand, the service will soon roll out to more countries.
The subscription fee for Meta Verified is $11.99 per month on the web and $14.99 per month on iOS, with the higher fee likely due to the 30% commission that Apple takes on in-app purchases. In addition to increased security and authenticity, subscribers will receive exclusive stickers for Stories and Reels, as well as 100 free Facebook stars.
Meta Verified: Enhanced Security for Facebook and Instagram Users
To obtain the verified badge, users must be 18 years or older and send a government ID that matches their Facebook or Instagram profile name and photo. The new feature will provide subscribers with direct access to customer support and added impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be them.
However, Meta Verified users cannot change their profile name, username, birthday, or profile photo without going through the verification process again. We expect this feature to increase security and protect user accounts from fraud or impersonation.
Meta Verified: A New Badge for Verified Businesses on Facebook?
In the world of social media, verification badges have become a symbol of status and credibility. A little blue checkmark next to a username can make the difference between being taken seriously or being dismissed as just another internet troll. And now, with the rise of Meta Verified, it seems that the world’s biggest tech companies are getting in on the act.
It all started when Elon Musk revamped Twitter’s verified subscription service, Twitter Blue, in late 2022. The move was met with mixed reactions, with some hailing it as a much-needed update to the verification system and others criticizing it as just another way for Twitter to make money. Nevertheless, it seems that the service has been a hit with users, with 180,000 US-based Twitter users subscribing to it as of January 2023, just two months after its November relaunch.
Meta Joins the Verification Game with Meta Verified
But Twitter isn’t the only tech giant looking to cash in on the verification game. Facebook, now known as Meta, is reportedly working on its own verification service, Meta Verified. While details are still scarce, it’s not hard to imagine what the service might look like. Like Twitter Blue, Meta Verified would likely offer users a way to get a verified badge on their profile in exchange for a fee. And like Twitter Blue, it’s possible that those who don’t sign up for the service might lose their historic blue checkmark.
Of course, the big question on everyone’s minds is whether businesses will be able to apply for a Meta Verified badge in the future. Currently, Twitter allows businesses to apply for verification, but it’s not clear whether Meta will follow suit. If they do, it could be a game-changer for brands looking to establish credibility on the platform.
Regardless of what happens with Meta Verified, one thing is clear: verification badges are here to stay. As the internet becomes more and more crowded, users are looking for ways to separate the wheat from the chaff. And whether it’s a blue checkmark or a Meta Verified badge, having that little symbol of credibility next to your name can make all the difference in the world.