• by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, February 20, 2023

Meta has found another way to monetize its Facebook platform. Over the weekend, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted the news on his Facebook page, introducing the subscription service.

Meta Verified, similar to Twitter’s verification tag, will give users an opportunity to use the blue verification badge on their Instagram and Facebook accounts. Users must verify their identity, and pay a monthly fee of up to $15.

The company told CNN that previously verified accounts will not incur changes.

“We are evolving the meaning of the blue badge to focus on authenticity so we can expand verification access to more people,” a Meta spokesperson said. “We will display follower count in more places so people can distinguish which accounts are notable public figures among accounts that share the same name.”

The blue checkmark was previously reserved for lawmakers, actors, musicians, sports athletes, journalists, and other people in the public sector.

Meta Verified is available in New Zealand and Australia, but the company has plans to expand the tag globally soon.

The Meta Verified service, at a cost of $11.99 on the web and $14.99 on iOS and Android devices, allows users to verify their identity using government-issued ID cards. It aims to provide improved protection against impersonation attacks, direct access to customer support, and increased visibility and reach.

This move follows the relaunch of Twitter’s subscription service, Twitter Blue, which offer a range of features like the blue check mark. In recent months, Twitter has expanded Twitter Blue to more than a dozen markets such as India and Indonesia.