Last month, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta Verified, a paid verification program, is now available to Facebook and Instagram users in the U.S. The program was initially launched in Australia and New Zealand in February 2023. Accounts that were verified prior to the launch of the program will keep their blue checkmarks.
What is Meta Verified?
Meta Verified is a subscription service that provides Facebook and Instagram users with a blue verification badge that appears next to their usernames. The program also provides users with:
- Proactive account protection – Meta Verified accounts are required to have two-factor authentication.
- Exclusive features – Meta Verified users will gain access to exclusive stickers on Facebook and Instagram Stories and Facebook Reels, as well as 100 Stars a month on Facebook to show support to other creators.
- Direct account support – Meta Verified users will have direct access to customer support.
Meta states that the launch of Meta Verified is part of an ongoing effort to enhance security and transparency on Facebook and Instagram and to reduce the number of fake accounts and impersonations that occur on these platforms.
Aside from security however, Meta Verified is also a way for Meta to generate additional revenue streams.
How Meta Verified Works
To become Meta Verified, users will need to activate their subscriptions for $14.99 USD/month (iOS/Android) or $11.99 USD/month on the web (Facebook Only). After that, you will need to take a photo of a government-issued photo ID as well as a selfie video to confirm your identity before being approved.
Once your account is verified, you will not be able to change your profile name or photo, username, or date of birth without going through the verification process again.
Final Thoughts
Although this new verification method could help smaller businesses and creators establish a more authoritative presence on Facebook and Instagram, paid verification on social platforms remains a controversial topic. Meta will have to ensure it learns from the mistakes of Twitter Blue’s launch back in November 2022, which saw an uptick in impersonator accounts.
