Meta to Roll Out Paid Verification on Facebook and Instagram

Following Twitter's introduction of a paid verification subscription service last year, Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is following suit. Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, announced the decision via a Facebook post and Instagram story, writing, "This week 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."

Related | Elon Musk to Make Verified Twitter Users Pay for Blue Checks

Zuck further explains that the motivation behind the new product is beefing up security for users, adding, "This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services." Meta Verified starts at $11.99 a month on web or $14.99 a month on iOS, and will be rolled out first in Australia and New Zealand.

While Facebook or Instagram verification may be useful for brands and influencers, reactions from ordinary users have been mixed. Many recalled the recent outrage towards Musk's Twitter Blue subscription, offered for $8, which made it more difficult to tell who on Twitter is a legitimate journalist or notable account. However, it's worth pointing out that Zuck appears to have learned from this mistake: a distinguishing factor for Meta is the requirement of a government ID.

And unlike Musk, who originally planned to force legacy verified accounts to subscribe or lose their checks, Zuckerberg has not passed any ruling about accounts that are currently already verified, suggesting they will be able to maintain their status in the new era. Either way, perhaps the biggest benefit of subscribing isn't the verification — but rather the expanded reach.

Earlier this month, Meta posted its first revenue decline since the company went public in 2012, with sales falling 1% in 2022. Amidst spiraling stock value, declining ad revenue, and a costly venture into the metaverse, Zuckerberg has been facing pressure to appease shareholders.

See how Twitter reacted to the news of Meta's paid verification below.

Photo Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images