Key points:

  • Mark Zuckerberg’s recent Instagram post hinted at the possibility of Facebook and Instagram charging users a verification fee in the near future. 
  • According to Zuckerberg, Meta – the parent company of Instagram and Facebook – is testing a subscription service that will provide “impersonation protection” against fake accounts. 
  • The new service is currently being rolled out in New Zealand and Australia.

It appears that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is taking a page out of Twitter’s book, according to a recent Instagram post from Mark Zuckerberg. In the post, Zuckerberg hinted at the testing of a new subscription service, “Meta Verified”, that promises “impersonation protection” against fake accounts.

As of now, the service is being tested in select regions, with users in New Zealand and Australia being the first to try it out. It is rumoured that Meta Verified may come with a subscription fee of $11.99, which would provide access to the aforementioned benefits. It remains to be seen whether or not this new feature will be introduced globally, but it’s clear that Meta is taking steps to combat the issue of fake accounts on their platforms.

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More about Meta Verified and what users are saying

Meta’s new subscription service is expected to cost users $11.99 per month when accessed via the web, while the cost will be slightly higher at $14.99 for those who purchase the service through Google Play Store or the iOS app. This service appears to be primarily aimed at content creators and influencers who have been dominating social media in recent years.

Apart from the coveted verification symbol, the subscription service will offer several other benefits. According to a spokesperson for Meta, users will have access to a dedicated support team, increased visibility and reach, as well as protection against impersonation by fake accounts.

In recent years, subscription services have become increasingly popular among social media companies. Many platforms that rely on advertising as their primary source of revenue have now pivoted to subscription models to generate additional income. For instance, Snapchat introduced Snapchat Plus, while Twitter released Twitter Blue – a subscription service that offers account verification as its unique selling point.

It’s clear that social media companies are looking for new ways to monetize their platforms and move away from solely relying on advertising revenue. By offering subscription services, companies can offer users additional benefits and features while also creating a new revenue stream. Given the success of such subscription offerings, it’s likely that we will continue to see more social media companies follow suit in the future.

The CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the launch of this new product via his Instagram channel, which is a recently launched service. It’s worth noting that Facebook and Instagram will both offer this option, but they will require separate subscriptions.

Subscription offerings – a new trend among social media platforms?

In recent years, subscription services have become increasingly popular among social media companies. Many platforms that rely on advertising as their primary source of revenue have now pivoted to subscription models to generate additional income. For instance, Snapchat introduced Snapchat Plus, while Twitter released Twitter Blue – a subscription service that offers account verification as its unique selling point.

It’s clear that social media companies are looking for new ways to monetize their platforms and move away from solely relying on advertising revenue. By offering subscription services, companies can offer users additional benefits and features while also creating a new revenue stream. Given the success of such subscription offerings, it’s likely that we will continue to see more social media companies follow suit in the future.

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Feature Image Source: Meta