Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced Sunday, February 19, the launch of a paid certification. This $11.99 per month identity authentication service is being tested starting this week in Australia and New Zealand.
After Twitter, it's Meta's turn to launch paid certification on Facebook and Instagram. Mark Zuckerberg's company announced the creation of "Meta Verified", a paid identity authentication service, in a statement on Sunday 19 February. It will allow you to get the famous blue check mark next to your name.
This authentication will be done thanks to an identity card. In addition to the verified badge, the subscription to Meta Verified promises increased protection against identity theft, better visibility of your account and privileged access to customer service. The plan is being tested this week in Australia and New Zealand, for $11.99 a month on the web, $14.99 a month on iOS and Android. It should then be rolled out worldwide.
Until now, the blue badge was reserved for celebrities and companies. From now on, any adult could benefit from it. However, previously certified accounts should not lose their blue check mark.
This announcement by Meta follows the introduction in November 2022 of Twitter Blue, Twitter's paid authentication system. After the social network was acquired in November 2022, Elon Musk quickly launched the subscription for $8.
The program had to be discontinued after the impersonation of celebrities and brands. Twitter then revised its copy and implemented a new system, including badges of different colors depending on the status (person or company).