The parent company for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, Meta, has introduced paid verification for Facebook and Instagram.
Dubbed Meta Verified, the subscription service 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.
In a post on Sunday, February 19, 2023, Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg said that the service will first be launched in New Zealand and Australia this week, before being rolled out to other parts of the world.
The service will cost USD11.99 (Ksh1,500) for web users and USD14.99 (Ksh1800) for iOS users.
“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services. Meta Verified starts at $11.99 / month on web or $14.99 / month on iOS. We’ll be rolling out in Australia and New Zealand this week and more countries soon,” Zuckerberg wrote.
Once verified, all imposter accounts will be brought down by Meta, Zuckerberg announced.
“Also, once you’ve verified your account with a government ID we can more effectively find and remove any imposter accounts since we know which account is the real you,” he added.
Badges – or “blue ticks”- have been used as verification tools for high-profile accounts to signify their authenticity.
Twitter’s pay-for verification feature was paused last November when people started impersonating big brands and celebrities by paying for the badge.
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