Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced a new paid verification subscription service for Facebook and Instagram users.
Zuckerberg on Sunday said that Meta Verified will cost $11.99 a month on web and $14.99 a month on iOS.
He said that Meta’s Instagram and Facebook users will be able to submit their government ID and get a blue verification badge.
The service will be launched in Australia and New Zealand this week ahead of a wider rollout.
The subscription “lets you 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,” Zuckerberg said.
“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,” he added.
The Facebook founder noted that providing direct access to customer support will cost “a significant amount of money,” which will be made up for with subscription revenue.
The new option comes after Twitter launched a revamped version of its own paid service, Twitter Blue, which allows users to get a verified profile and other benefits at $8 per month on web and $11 per month on iOS or Android.
Twitter new owner, Elon Musk rolled out Twitter Blue in December following the completion of his $44 billion deal to purchase the company last year.
Historically, Meta granted verification badge to notable users like politicians, public figures, members of the press and so on to show their legitimacy.
A Meta spokesperson said that to qualify for the Meta Verified subscriptions, user must be at least 18 years, meet minimum account activity requirements and submit a government ID that matches their profile name and photo.
Businesses are not currently eligible to apply for Meta Verified, and the company said users will not be able to change their profile name, username, date of birth, or profile photo without going through the application process again.
In recent months, Meta laid off about 11,000 workers. Its stock is down about 54% since its September 2021 high.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.