We all know how quick and easy it is to create an account on social media, but it can be challenging to determine if the people you follow are genuinely who they say they are.
If you plan to become one of those businesses or people with a verified account, check out the latest news – Facebook and Instagram will start charging for a blue check soon.
Paid verification for 12 and 15 dollars
This subscription service is called Meta Verified. Meta Verified becomes available this week in New Zealand and Australia and will be expanded to other countries.
Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced that paid verification would cost $11.99 monthly on the web or $14.99 when purchased on Apple’s iOS. But let’s find out what comes with the new badges.
Twitter has done it first
Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, has made a similar move. In November 2022, Musk has implemented the premium Twitter Blue subscription. A day after launching it, Twitter paused the feature as people started impersonating celebrities and big brands by paying for the blue check.
Twitter relaunched its blue subscription service after the onset of fake “verified” accounts in December. Now the check mark options have different colors between accounts: companies have golden checks, government and other organizations gray checks, and individuals have blue checks being celebrities or not.
Other websites like YouTube, Reddit, and Discord similarly use subscription-based models.
So far, Meta’s paid verification has yet to be available for businesses, but any individual is willing to pay for it.
Service comes with several benefits
The new service has several benefits, such asdirect access to customer support and additional protection from fake accounts.
Users who want the blue badge must provide a government ID matching their profile picture and name. They also need to be above 18 to be qualified.
Zuckerberg promoting new features
Meta’s CEO wrote that a new feature is improving security and increasing authenticity across their services. Also, this subscription service will offer “increased visibility and reach.” The idea is to evolve the meaning of the blue badge, so more people have access to verification.
Zuckerberg confirmed that accounts that there will be no changes to the accounts that are already verified.
The blue check has been about authentic and notable users so far.
What are the benefits of a blue tick on Facebook and Instagram?
Blue badges make the real accounts stand out, so Instagram users are sure about whom they are following the right person or business.
Verified accounts get early access to new Instagram features, which help them monetize their accounts. For instance, the swipe-up feature on Instagram stories is available for brands with at least 10,000 followers. These accounts can use it to add a link their followers can get by swiping up while watching their stories. On the other hand, verified accounts are the exception, and the number of followers does not limit them.
Blue ticks are easy to spot while searching through your Feed. This simple check mark beside your name makes a huge difference when increasing brand awareness and followers.
It is obvious why blue badges are considered status symbols.
