Meta expands paid-for blue badge verification to Facebook and Instagram users in the US

After launching paid-for blue badge verification to users in Australia and New Zealand last month, Meta has expanded its new ‘Meta Verified’ subscription service to Facebook and Instagram users in the US, offering subscribers customer support, prioritization in comments, exclusive stickers to be used in Stories, plus the platform’s verification badge.

Last year, as part of Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s rampant efforts to monetise the platform following his turbulent $44 billion buyout, Twitter allowed any user to purchase the once-sought after blue verification badge as part of the service’s pay-monthly Twitter Blue subscription, leading to a spate of significant impersonations and confusion on the platform as any user could purchase the once-meaningful blue badge and claim their account represented whoever they wished, with no clear way to differentiate genuine accounts from impersonators.

Despite the flaws with Twitter’s pay-to-play verification system, Meta announced last month that it would follow suit with its own take on Twitter Blue.

Unlike Twitter’s paid-for verification badge, ‘Meta Verified’ is only available to accounts representing people and not businesses. It also requires formal ID checks prior to subscribing, which is something Twitter did not do to begin with.

Meta Verified costs $14.99 USD/month (iOS/Android) or $11.99 USD/month on the web. In addition to the blue badge, the subscription offers subscribers customer support, prioritization in comments, and exclusive stickers to be used in Stories.

Image: WILLIAM WEST/Getty Images