Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced the tech company will begin testing a new offering called Meta Verified to help up-and-coming creators grow their presence and build community faster.
The offering is a subscription bundle on Instagram and Facebook that includes a verified badge that authenticates your account with a government ID, proactive account protection, access to account support, and increased visibility and reach.
Meta is starting with a gradual test in Australia and New Zealand later this week to learn what’s most valuable, which the platform hopes to bring to the rest of the world soon.
Some of the top requests Meta receives from creators are for broader access to verification and account support, in addition to more features to increase visibility and reach. Since last year, we’ve been thinking about how to unlock access to these features through a paid offering.
With Meta Verified, users will get:
• A verified badge, confirming you’re the real you and that your account has been authenticated with a government ID.
• More protection from impersonation with proactive account monitoring for impersonators who might target people with growing online audiences.
• Help when you need it with access to a real person for common account issues.
• Increased visibility and reach with prominence in some areas of the platform– like search, comments and recommendations.
• Exclusive features to express yourself in unique ways.
Meta Verified is available for direct purchase on Instagram or Facebook in Australia and New Zealand starting later this week. People can purchase a monthly subscription for (USD) $11.99 on the web and (USD) $14.99 on iOS and Android.
As the tech company does tests and learns, there will be no changes to accounts on Instagram and Facebook that are already verified based on prior requirements, including authenticity and notability. Long term, Meta wants to build a subscription offering that’s valuable to everyone, including creators, businesses and our community at large. As part of this vision, we are evolving the meaning of the verified badge so we can expand access to verification and more people can trust the accounts they interact with are authentic.
Building Safety from the Beginning
Meta noted that it is important for users to feel confident that their identity and accounts are safe and that the people they interact with are who they say they are. With that in mind the platform is building a series of checks into Meta Verified before, during, and after someone applies.
To be eligible, accounts must meet minimum activity requirements, such as prior posting history, and be at least 18 years old. Applicants are required to submit a government ID that matches the profile name and photo of the Facebook or Instagram account they’re applying for.
Included in the subscriptions is proactive monitoring for account impersonation. Meta is also committing to continuous monitoring and review of reported violations, as well as taking swift action against those who try to evade their systems.
Meta is also committed to continuous monitoring and review of reported violations, as well as taking swift action against those who try to evade our systems.