Instagram and Facebook users will now be able to pay to get their account's blue verification badge, Meta has announced.
Meta Verified will cost $11,99 per month on the web or $14,99 for iPhone users and will be available in Australia and New Zealand from this week.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's chief executive, said the move would improve its better safety and authenticity in social networking applications.
The move comes after Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, who initially implemented the paid verification system in November 2022.
The subscription service Meta's paid version won't be available for businesses yet, but any individual will be able to pay for verification.
Blue ticks - have been used as verification tools on high profile accounts to indicate their authenticity.
The subscription is supposed to give paying users a blue tick, increased visibility of their posts, protection from imitators and easier access to customer service, Meta said in a post on their website.
Η change it will not affect older verified accounts, but will increase the ability for some smaller users to be verified for a fee.
Meta said Instagram and Facebook usernames should match some ID provided by it government for verification to be granted and users must have a profile photo that includes their face.
Meta did not say when the new feature would roll out in other countries, although Zuckerberg he said in a post that it will happen "soon".
