Meta Expands Paid Verification Program to the United Kingdom
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Loading... - Clint Pickford
- 23 May 2023
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Meta, the parent company behind popular social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, has recently introduced its paid verification program, known as Meta Verified, in the United Kingdom. The subscription, priced at £9.99 per month for each platform, is primarily aimed at creators.
Subscribers to Meta Verified can enjoy various benefits, including proactive protection against impersonation, access to dedicated customer support, and the highly sought-after blue badge that signifies verification. This initiative aims to provide enhanced features and support to content creators on Facebook and Instagram who choose to opt for the paid verification program.
After initially launching the subscription plan in Australia and New Zealand in February, Meta has now expanded its Meta Verified program to users in the United States. This move comes shortly after Twitter, under the ownership of Elon Musk, reintroduced its own paid subscription service called Twitter Blue, which also includes the option for paid verification.
Following the introduction of Twitter Blue, Meta made its own announcement regarding the launch of its verified program. This indicates a growing trend among social media platforms to offer paid verification services, catering to users who are willing to subscribe for additional perks and the coveted verification badge.
Renowned consultant in the field of social media platforms, Matt Navarra, highlighted that the announcement about the Meta Verified program was shared within the Meta Creators Community, a UK-based group. The company emphasized the significant contribution of emerging innovators in influencing and shaping the development of the Meta Verified program.
By recognizing the role of these up-and-coming talents, Meta underscores its commitment to incorporating the insights and perspectives of content creators into the design and implementation of its paid verification initiative.
It is important to note that users are required to pay separately for verification on both Instagram and Facebook. To subscribe to the Meta Verified program, users must be at least 18 years old, enable two-factor authentication, and undergo a verification process that involves providing a government-issued ID before making the payment.
Meta’s Policy
Meta has introduced a policy that mandates users to have screen names that match their official identification. However, this decision has faced criticism from sex workers, transgender creators, and privacy advocates who argue that it may potentially compromise the safety and privacy of individuals who choose not to disclose their identities.
Under the current regulations on Meta, subscribers are not allowed to modify their usernames, names, or profile pictures. However, the company claims to be actively working on developing the necessary infrastructure to enable users to make changes in the future.
Unlike Twitter, Meta has no plans to revoke the verification status of popular accounts that were verified before the introduction of the Meta Verified program. However, visually, the new Meta Verified subscription verification badge does not appear distinct from the previous verification badges.
