In an effort to support the growth and community building of content producers, Meta Platforms (META.O) said that it is piloting a monthly subscription service called Meta Verified. Users will be able to authenticate their accounts using a government ID and receive a blue badge.
The subscription package for Instagram and Facebook, which will go live, will start at $11.99 per month on the web or $14.99 per month on Apple’s iOS system and Android. It also provides additional security against impersonation.
This week, Meta Verified will be made available in Australia and New Zealand, with incremental rollouts in more nations to follow.
Meta’s entry into the subscription-based space comes after Twitter, which said last month that Twitter Blue will cost $11 per month. The social media giant’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has earlier said it was planning to launch several new products that would “empower creators to be way more productive and creative,” while cautioning about the cost associated with supporting the technology for a large user base.