People can soon buy a blue check for their Facebook and Instagram accounts, just like on Twitter.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the new subscription on Facebook, sharing a few details about the perks that subscribers will get with the paid service.
“We’re starting to roll out Meta Verified—a subscription service that lets you verify your account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get direct access to customer support,” he said.
According to The Verge, users who sign up will also get exclusive stickers for Stories and Reels, as well as 100 free stars per month.
To get verified, one would have to pay $11.99 (P660) a month on the web and $14.99 (P830) on iOS. This would first be rolling out in Australia and New Zealand, then to more countries “soon.”
Previously, users had to request for their account or page to be verified on the platforms and confirm their authenticity and notability.
To distinguish accounts from notable public figures, Meta will “display follower count” in more places. The company will also require users to be 18 and above to be eligible for the paid verification.
Twitter launched a similar paid subscription service, Twitter Blue, in late 2022. However, it was plagued with issues like people paying for the check mark to impersonate brands and celebrities.
An intro to Twitter Blue ✅ pic.twitter.com/MSYw3fxpUj
— Albacore (@thebookisclosed) November 11, 2022
Accounts were distinguished with different check colors so people would know whether they were legacy verifications (government, news organizations, public figures who got the blue tick before Elon Musk’s takeover) or they paid for their check mark. Musk, however, plans to abolish legacy verifications and have these previously verified accounts pay for Twitter Blue if they want to keep their check mark.
Will you ‘pay to play’?
On social media, users have been poking fun at Meta for following in Twitter’s footsteps.
Twitter blue sounds better than meta verified 😜
If meta is copying you means you’re doing something right @elonmusk
In the coming time, Twitter will become the biggest platform of free speech social media. pic.twitter.com/2dyeuhQAIl
— Ankit Sheoran (@ankitsheoran71) February 20, 2023
'Meta Verified' is a trailing indicator suggesting that we have passed the point where there is nothing left of our lives for Zuckerberg to profitably strip-mine.
— Ross Floate (@RossFloate) February 20, 2023
Meta Verified is just as cringe as Twitter Blue and I would rather disappear into the abyss never to be known again than spend a dime trying to gain traction by paying for faux popularity on social media.
— Kode Kaldwin 🦇 (@kodekaldwin) February 19, 2023
Instagram is soon launching ‘Meta Verified’ where you can pay a monthly fee to become verified on the platform and get some “perks” for joining…
I knew this was going to happen, Social Media is becoming pay to play.
— ChaoticBunny (@ChaoticBunnyTV) February 19, 2023
Users are also wary about the fact that they will have to share their government ID with Meta in exchange for the blue badge.
Introducing Meta Verified, the subscription service that lets you trade your government ID for a blue badge, false sense of security, and direct access to customer support. Because nothing says authenticity like handing over personal info to a social media giant. Only… https://t.co/vtmjIBxhd8 pic.twitter.com/YriSW6fcDJ
— Fixer (@DrillApps) February 19, 2023
SIM registration Facebook edition
— Claro Alfredo Ramirez (@thedonclaro) February 20, 2023
