Meta announces its own paid 'blue badge' subscription service for Facebook, Instagram users

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the development and wrote on his Facebook page: "Good morning and new product announcement: this week we're starting to roll out Meta Verified -- a subscription service that lets you verify your account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get direct access to customer support."

"This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services. Meta Verified starts at $11.99 / month on web or $14.99 / month on iOS. We'll be rolling out in Australia and New Zealand this week and more countries soon," he wrote.

The company said there will be no changes to accounts on Instagram and Facebook that are already verified based on prior requirements, including authenticity and notability.

"Long term, we want to build a subscription offering that’s valuable to everyone, including creators, businesses and our community at large," Meta said in a statement.

With Meta Verified, users will get the following facilities:

A verified badge, confirming you’re the real you and that your account has been authenticated with a government ID.
More protection from impersonation with proactive account monitoring for impersonators who might target people with growing online audiences.  
Help when you need it with access to a real person for common account issues.
Increased visibility and reach with prominence in some areas of the platform– like search, comments and recommendations. 
Exclusive features to express yourself in unique ways.