Meta follows in the footsteps of rival platform Twitter

Mark Zuckerberg is following in the footsteps of Elon Musk by introducing a fee for blue verified ticks, called “Meta Verified”.

Meta’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced the move, saying it will improve security and authenticity on the social media apps. The blue badge comes with several benefits including increased visibility, protection against impersonation, priority customer support, and more. The service will first roll out in Australia and New Zealand later this week. The company said it would cost $11.99 a month on the web or $14.99 on iOS and Android. Although Meta’s paid subscription service is not yet available for businesses, any individual can pay for verification.

In order to become Meta Verified, there are requirements users will need to meet. The user must be at least 18 years of age. According to Meta, users will also need to submit a government ID that matches the name and photo on Facebook or Instagram, in order to avoid the embarrassment of accounts impersonating people and brands—as happened when Twitter initially rolled out its paid verification service.

Additionally, users who sign up for the service will receive 100 free stars per month—stars being the digital currency used to tip creators on Facebook. Users will also get exclusive stickers for Stories and Reels. The company is evolving the meaning of the verified badge as part of its vision, so more people can trust the accounts they interact with.”Long term, we want to build a subscription offering that’s valuable to everyone, including creators, businesses and our community at large” added Meta.