Meta is launching a paid verification service this week, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Sunday.
Instagram and Facebook’s parent company will begin testing Meta Verified, a subscription service that allows users of the social media platforms to pay to verify their account and receive a blue badge, Zuckerberg said in an update on Instagram.
According to Zuckerberg, the service will also offer subscribers “direct access to customer support” and additional protections against identity theft. “This new feature is all about increasing the authenticity and security of our services,” he said in the update.
No changes will be made to already verified accounts while Meta tests the service, a spokesperson told USA TODAY in an email.
Earlier this month, rumors started circulating about the service. The announcement comes after Twitter unveiled a similar service, Twitter Blue, under new CEO Elon Musk, late last year. The social media company relaunched the service in December, which charges users $8 a month, after a surge in users impersonating celebrities, brands and businesses.
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How much does Meta Verified cost?
Meta Verified will start at $11.99 per month on web or $14.99 for iOS, Zuckerberg said in Sunday’s update. Users can make the purchase directly through Instagram and Facebook.
What are the requirements to apply to Meta Verified?
To be eligible for the Service, Users must be at least 18 years of age and meet minimum activity requirements, such as: B. the history of previous posts, the meta spokesman said. Users applying for Meta Verified are also required to provide government-issued ID that matches the associated Instagram or Facebook account profile name and photo.
Where will Meta Verified be available?
The subscription service will launch in Australia and New Zealand this week and will be available in other countries “soon,” Zuckerberg said.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meta Verified: Paid Verification Service for Instagram, Facebook
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