Image: LIONEL BONAVENTURE (AFP)
The Facebook parent company Meta is introducing a paid subscription service with which users can, among other things, have their accounts verified. The payment model will start this week in Australia and New Zealand, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg announced on Sunday. Other countries would soon follow.
Up to $15 a month
The blue tick serves as proof that the verified profile is actually operated by the specified person. Meta Verified costs $11.99 per month when subscribed to through the website. On the other hand, if you buy it via Apple devices, it will cost you $14.99. “This new feature is all about increasing the authenticity and security of our services,” Zuckerberg wrote in the statement, which he posted to his Facebook account. There will be no changes for accounts on Facebook and Instagram that are already verified.
Facebook promises users with a subscription exclusive benefits: In addition to the usual receipt of the blue verification tick, the group advertises with more visibility and reach of accounts, direct access to customer care, and additional protection against copycat profiles. Only users over the age of 18 should be able to subscribe to the service. It is initially not available for companies.
Role model: Elon Musk’s Twitter
As reported, the meta group had to accept a decline in sales of four percent in the past quarter, due to falling advertising revenues and competition from the online service TikTok. Meta is not the only group that seems to be relying more on revenue from paid subscriptions: Zuckerberg’s competitor Elon Musk recently introduced a subscription model for the short message service Twitter he had acquired. Twitter Blue, which includes user account verification, costs between $8 and $11 a month.
What do you think of the new payment model? Would you pay to have your Facebook or Instagram profile verified? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Nachrichten
