As Meta follows in the footsteps of rival site Twitter, Facebook and Instagram users will soon have to pay to be verified on the social media networks. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, revealed on Sunday in a Facebook post that the service would first be available in Australia and New Zealand later this week.
The business stated that it would cost US$11.99 per month on the web or US$14.99 on iOS and Android (or $19.99 on the web or $24.99 on iOS and Android in Australia). In addition to a blue badge, Zuckerberg stated that the service would provide “additional impersonation security,” increased reach for verified users, and direct access to customer care.
In a blog post, Meta stated that it will rely on government ID documents to establish the identity of verified accounts in order to avoid the embarrassment of accounts impersonating people and brands, as happened when Twitter first launched its premium verification service.
“As part of this vision, we are evolving the meaning of the verified badge so we can expand access to verification and more people can trust the accounts they interact with are authentic”
Meta press releaase.
According to a news release, the service features, in addition to a verification badge, enhanced protection against account impersonation, better exposure in areas such as search and recommendations, and more direct access to customer care. Now, users of prominent and notable profiles on Facebook and Instagram can add a free badge indicating the account’s validity.
The update is in line with Elon Musk’s redesigned “Twitter Blue,” which was introduced in November 2022. Musk made the once-free blue check mark, which indicates the validity of a popular account, available to any user who paid a monthly charge, but had to relaunch the service in December due to a rush of users impersonating companies and celebrities.
Unlike Twitter, Meta stated that no adjustments will be made to accounts that were verified as a result of previous “authenticity and notability” standards. Meta Verified is not yet available for businesses, but it is a long-term goal of the service.
Meta’s decision to begin charging for verification comes after the company’s market worth plummeted by more than $600 billion last year. The company has recorded year-over-year revenue reductions for the last three quarters, yet the most recent analysis may indicate that the tides are shifting.
Meta’s goal, according to Zuckerberg, was to focus on “efficiency” in order to recover. In November, the corporation slashed 13% of its workforce, or 11,000 employees, and integrated office buildings to save money.
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