Meta announced the launch of a new service called “Meta Verified” early last month, in which users could pay a monthly fee to have a blue check mark next to their username, which serves as a form of verification. Users could get Facebook and Instagram verifications for $11.99 on the web and $14.99 on iOS.
The launch was announced on Instagram stories, along with a waiting list. This prompted users to rush to Meta in order to obtain a blue check mark next to their username, which has recently become the ultimate status symbol. The blue check was once reserved for politicians, celebrities, journalists, and major brands. Everyday people can now get a blue checkmark for $14.99 after providing government identification to authenticate their accounts, according to Meta.
Other benefits for verified subscribers include increased security checks and the ability to speak with a live person about account issues. These benefits could be one of the reasons Instagram was able to sell 44 million verifications in a single day, as many users complain about Meta’s customer service when it comes to resolving account issues.
According to the company, the verification service is only available to users over the age of 18 and will not be available to businesses. Meta also stated that no changes will be made to accounts that have already been verified based on the previous requirements.
Because of the economic uncertainty, Meta’s decision to sell the blue verification checks comes at a time when many social media companies are looking to diversify their revenue streams. Similarly. Twitter has announced the sale of verification ticks, and Snapchat has announced the sale of its unique AR technology.
Following Meta’s huge success in selling 44 million blue checks in one day, we can expect the company to roll out more paid features in the coming months.
