Facebook and Instagram's parent company, Meta, has introduced a paid verification subscription service called Meta Verified, according to an announcement from CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The service, initially launched in Australia and New Zealand this week, will cost $11.99 per month on the web and $14.99 per month on iOS. Users can submit their government ID and receive a blue verification badge, which signals their legitimacy. The service is aimed at increasing authenticity and security across the platforms. The subscription includes impersonation protections and proactive monitoring for account impersonation. Businesses are not eligible for Meta Verified.
The Meta Verified service is similar to Twitter's paid subscription service called Twitter Blue, which also offers users verification badges in exchange for a monthly fee. However, Twitter's initial launch of the service was postponed after users abused the paid option by impersonating celebrities and brands.
To qualify for Meta Verified, users must be at least 18 years old, meet minimum account activity requirements, and submit a government ID that matches their profile name and photo. The service also includes proactive monitoring for account impersonation.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who recently acquired Twitter for $44 billion, has said that Twitter's new verification system will "give power to the people." Musk has also expressed his intention to remove badges from Twitter accounts that were verified prior to the Twitter Blue launch.
Meta Verified's launch follows Meta's recent rebranding, as well as its renewed focus on building the metaverse, a virtual reality platform aimed at connecting people in immersive and interactive environments.
