Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has announced the rollout of its paid verification service, Meta Verified, in the United States. The service, which first launched in Australia and New Zealand last month, allows users to acquire the coveted blue checkmark on their Instagram and Facebook profiles for a monthly fee of $11.99 on the web and $14.99 on mobile.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO, made the announcement on Friday through the Meta Channel on Instagram, stating, “You can get a badge, proactive impersonation protection, and direct access to customer support.” The waitlist for signing up for the Meta Verified subscription service is now open, with requirements for subscribers including being at least 18 years old, completing the verification process, providing a government-issued photo ID, and enabling two-factor authentication.
Subscribers to Meta Verified will enjoy access to exclusive stickers on Facebook and Instagram Stories and Facebook Reels, as well as 100 Stars per month on Facebook to support other creators. The company stated that it has seen “good results” from its initial test in Australia and New Zealand and is considering user feedback before further expanding the service.
Meta’s decision to introduce paid verification is inspired by Twitter’s introduction of its own paid verification service, which was launched after Tesla CEO Elon Musk acquired the platform last fall. However, unlike Twitter’s approach, users who are already verified on Instagram and Facebook will not be required to pay for their verification status.
The blue checkmark has long been a sought-after symbol on social media platforms, as it was traditionally reserved for public figures such as politicians, actors, musicians, athletes, and journalists. Musk has advocated for the availability of the blue checkmark to all users.
As more social media platforms, like Snap, introduce subscription services, Meta’s decision to launch paid verification marks a shift in the company’s approach. To sign up for Meta Verified, users must navigate to their settings on Instagram or Facebook, access the “Accounts Center,” and follow the prompts to complete the verification process.
