Meta Launches Paid Subscription Program to Increase Authenticity and Security Across its Platforms

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced Sunday that it will begin rolling out a paid subscription program called “Meta Verified” that will allow users and businesses to verify their accounts with a blue badge. The service will start at $11.99 a month on the web or $14.99 a month on iOS, and will be released in Australia and New Zealand this week with more countries to follow soon.

In a Facebook post, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the new verification system is about increasing authenticity and security across their services. To avoid fake accounts, customers who want to get the blue badge would need to provide a government ID which matches their profile name and picture. The service also comes with other perks, such as extra protection from impersonation accounts and direct access to customer support.

The announcement follows Twitter’s decision to discontinue text messages as a two-factor authentication method to secure their accounts, and instead must use other verification methods. This was after billionaire Tesla founder and owner of Twitter, Elon Musk, created a paid-for verification system known as Twitter Blue after taking over the company last year.

The new Meta Verified system is expected to help users and businesses gain more trust and credibility, as well as provide an extra layer of security. It is also expected to help reduce the number of fake accounts on the platform. Meta has yet to announce when the service will be available in other countries.