Meta Verified: The New Subscription Feature on Instagram and Facebook
In the ever-evolving world of social media, Meta has introduced a new feature that's creating quite a buzz: Meta Verified. This paid subscription feature is designed to help creators amplify their presence on Instagram and Facebook. But what exactly does it entail, and is it worth the investment? Let's delve deeper.
Meta Verified: An Overview
Introduced by Mark Zuckerberg, Meta Verified is a subscription-based feature that aims to provide creators with a range of benefits:
- Impersonation Monitoring: A proactive approach to target and deter impersonators.
- Verification Badge: An authentication process involving a government ID, ensuring the authenticity of an account.
- Live Chat Support: Real-time customer support for any account-related issues.
- Exclusive Features: Unique stickers for Facebook and Instagram Stories, as well as Facebook Reels.
- Enhanced Visibility: A potential increase in visibility across search results, comments, and recommendations. However, this perk is currently under testing in specific regions like Australia and New Zealand.
Eligibility and Cost
Meta Verified is being tested in Australia, New Zealand, and the US. To qualify:
- Users must be 18 years or older.
- Profiles should be associated with the user's full name and feature a profile picture of their face.
- A government-issued ID that matches the profile's name and picture is required.
- Two-factor authentication should be enabled.
- Users should meet certain activity benchmarks, such as a history of prior posts.
It's worth noting that business profiles are currently excluded from this feature.
As for the cost, Meta Verified is priced at $11.99 (USD) per month on web platforms and $14.99 (USD) per month on iOS and Android devices.
The Rationale Behind Meta Verified
Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s CEO, highlighted that the most frequent feedback they receive revolves around customer service and verification requests. Meta Verified is an attempt to address these concerns in a consolidated package. With platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Discord exploring subscription services, Meta sees this as a potential avenue for revenue generation.
The Community's Perspective
The introduction of Meta Verified has garnered mixed reactions. While many appreciate the enhanced security and support, concerns about the increasing "pay-to-play" nature of social media are prevalent. The challenge for Meta lies in striking a balance between offering value-added services and ensuring core features remain accessible.
In Conclusion
Meta Verified is still in its testing phase, and its future will largely depend on user feedback and its efficacy. As the digital landscape continues to shift, it remains to be seen how such subscription models will shape the user experience.