Meta Verified: The new blue checkmark for Facebook and Instagram users

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has recently launched Meta Verified, a new service that offers users various benefits, including account protection and direct support. To subscribe, users must provide a government-issued ID that matches their Instagram or Facebook profile name and photo to verify their identity. Once verified, users cannot change their profile name, photo, username, or date of birth without going through the Meta Verified subscription and verification application process again. Moreover, users must subscribe to Meta Verified separately for both Instagram and Facebook.

Meta Verified is currently available only in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand and is intended for users who are at least 18 years old. The subscription service is not yet available in all regions or for businesses. To sign up for Meta Verified, users should go to ‘Settings’ on their Instagram or Facebook account, click on ‘Accounts Center,’ and select ‘Meta Verified’ if it’s available for their account. Users must choose their preferred payment method for the monthly subscription fee and complete the verification process by providing a government-issued photo ID. The subscription fee is $14.99 USD/month for iOS/Android and $11.99 USD/month on the web (for Facebook only).

Users can join the waitlist to sign up for the subscription service online starting today. Apart from the monthly fee, users must be at least 18 years old and complete the verification process by providing a government-issued photo ID to confirm their identity. Two-factor authentication is also required, and subscribers cannot change their profile name, photo, username, or date of birth without going through the verification process again.

Previously, blue checkmarks were only available to public figures such as politicians, actors, musicians, athletes, and journalists. However, Meta has now introduced the subscription-based Meta Verified service, which offers similar verification benefits to all users.

While Meta has not charged customers for most of its services since its establishment, it seems that this is changing. It’s worth noting that Meta and Twitter aren’t the only companies that have introduced subscription services, as Snap launched its subscription service last year, which has already attracted 2.5 million paid customers.