CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated on Instagram that Meta is launching Meta Verified, a new paid subscription service for verification.
Instagram and Facebook users on Meta’s platforms can now submit their government ID for a blue verification badge for $11.99 per month on the web and $14.99 per month on iOS.
A spokesperson for the company said that subscriptions will now include “proactive monitoring” for account impersonation.
This week, the service will launch in Australia and New Zealand, and additional countries will follow, according to Zuckerberg.
In the statement, Zuckerberg stated that “this new feature is about enhancing authenticity and security across our services.”
Politicians, business leaders, members of the press, and organizations have historically received verification from Meta to vouch for their legitimacy.
The business stated that users will not be allowed to modify their profile name, username, date of birth, or profile photo without going through the application process again. Companies are not yet eligible to apply for Meta Verified.
The company’s new subscription service is similar to Twitter Blue, a recently updated program that also offers users a verification badge in exchange for a monthly fee.
According to a Meta representative, subscriptions to Meta Verified have impersonation security measures in place.
Users must meet minimum account activity requirements, be at least 18 years old, and provide a government ID that matches their profile name and photo in order to be eligible.
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