After Twitter, Meta will implement a paid blue tick on Facebook and Instagram. This was announced directly by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta.
"This week we started rolling out Meta Verified - a subscription service that lets you verify your account with an ID, earn a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get immediate access to customer support," Zuck wrote on his social media accounts.
"This new feature is all about increasing authenticity and security across our services," he stressed.
To get the Facebook or Instagram blue tick, users are charged the following subscription rates:
Web: USD 11.99 per month
Android or iOS: USD 14.99 per month
The Meta Verified service is still in a limited trial phase in Australia and New Zealand this week. Furthermore Meta will launch it in other countries.
To register for the Meta Verified service, users must be at least 18 years old. Submit a local government issued ID that matches the profile name and photo of the Facebook or Instagram account.
Meta ensures that community leaders and others who have previously been verified will not be affected by this new rule. Meta Verified is intended for influencers and those who use social media for business but are not well-known public figures.
"Long term, we want to create a subscription offering that benefits everyone, including content creators, businesses, and our community at large. As part of this vision, we're expanding what the verified badge means so we can expand access to verified and more people can trust that the accounts they interact with are genuine," Facebook said in its official website.