Meta has on Friday announced the launch of its subscription service in the United States. The service will allow Facebook and Instagram users to pay for verification and obtain a blue badge, similar to what is currently offered by Twitter, which is owned by Elon Musk.
The service, known as Meta Verified, will require users to verify their accounts using a government ID and will cost $11.99 per month on the web or $14.99 a month on Apple’s iOS system and Google-owned Android. According to Meta’s statement, the service will provide users with a greater sense of security and trust while using the platform.
This publication recalls that Meta in February announced its plans to begin subscription-based access to improved security and account verification.
The Chief Executive Officer of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg said that the Meta Verified, which will allow users “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.”
“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,” he wrote.
Meta’s new service allows users to pay for account verification, following in the footsteps of Snapchat and Telegram. The move is the latest effort by social media companies to diversify their revenue streams beyond advertising. Meta had announced the testing of the service in February.
Meanwhile, Twitter has launched its Blue subscription service, which allows users to pay for the blue check mark that was previously only available to verified accounts of politicians, journalists, and other public figures. The service was rolled out after Elon Musk’s $44 billion buyout of the company last year.
