Meta is launching ‘Meta Verified’ for Instagram and Facebook profiles for a $12-a-month

Meta is rolling a new paid verification subscription service called Meta Verified, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Sunday.

Coming soon, for $11.99/month on web and $14.99/month on iOs, users on Instagram and Facebook will be able to pay to become verified users, which will entail, among other things, a blue verification badge.

The service will first be introduced in New Zealand and Australia this year, and will be available in other nations ‘soon,’ according to Zuckerberg.

This week we’re starting to roll out Meta Verified – a subscription service that 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,’ wrote the Meta boss Zuckerberg on Instagram

‘This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services.’

The company has previously granted verification to notable figures including celebrities, business leaders, journalists, politicians and athletes.

Meta said those with pre-existing verification badges will not see their status or options change in the new era of subscription verification.

The new verification system looks a lot like Elon Musk’s Twitter Blue service, which was rolled out in December after an initially delayed launch.

Twitter’s blue check mark subscription costs users eight dollars per month.

According to the Verge, users who sign up for Meta’s new systems will be given exclusive stickers for Stories and Reels, and will also receive 100 free stars per month, or the digital currency used to tip Facebook creators.

Businesses will not yet be able to apply for a verified badge, and it will also be the case that if an individual wishes to change his or her profile name, username, birthday or profile picture, they will have to go through the verification process all over again.

Meta, unlike Twitter, will require users to submit government IDs in order to receive account verification, and will reportedly offer other safeguards against fake accounts as well.

The service’s higher price point on iOS and Android is likely something the company is doing to offset the commission that both the Apple and Google stores take on in-app purchases.