On Friday, Meta Platforms announced the launch of its subscription service in the United States, enabling users of Facebook and Instagram to pay for account verification, similar to Twitter’s approach under Elon Musk.
Called Meta Verified, the service offers users a blue badge upon verifying their accounts with a government-issued ID. The subscription costs $11.99 (approximately Rs. 990) per month for web users, while the cost rises to $14.99 (around Rs. 1,240) per month for those using Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android platforms, according to a company statement.
The service, which began testing in February, is part of a broader trend among social media companies, which includes Snap’s Snapchat and the messaging platform Telegram. This move represents an effort to shift revenue sources away from reliance on advertising.
Following a $44 billion acquisition by Musk last year, Twitter introduced its own Blue subscription service, which allows users to pay for verification, a feature that was previously reserved for notable figures such as politicians and journalists.
The initial rollout of Twitter Blue in November led to a wave of impersonation incidents, prompting the platform to suspend the service temporarily and rebrand it with distinct colors for individual users, businesses, and government accounts.
Meta Verified was initially launched in Australia and New Zealand before expanding to the U.S. and additional markets.
Subscribers to the new service will receive a badge confirming their verified status, enjoy enhanced protection against impersonation, gain direct access to customer support, and benefit from increased visibility on the platforms, according to Meta.
The company indicated that the service primarily targets content creators aiming to grow their presence online, and adjustments to the offering could occur following the testing phase.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
