Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram has announced plan to allow users on both platforms to get a blue tick verification through a designed payment system.
It was gathered that both Android and iPhone users would be able to enjoy this benefit and it will be available in Australia and New Zealand this week.
The verification is expected to cost $11.99 (£9.96) a month on web, or $14.99 for iPhone users.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta chief executive, said the move will improve security and authenticity on the social media apps, BBC reports.
The move comes after Elon Musk, owner of Twitter, implemented the premium Twitter Blue subscription in November 2022.
Meta’s paid subscription service is not yet available for businesses, but any individual can pay for verification.
Badges – or “blue ticks”- have been used as verification tools for high-profile accounts to signify their authenticity.
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The subscription would give paying users a blue badge, increased visibility of their posts, protection from impersonators and easier access to customer service, Meta said in a post on their website.
The company told the BBC the change would not affect previously verified accounts, but noted there would be an increase in visibility for some smaller users who become verified thanks to the paid feature.
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Meta said Instagram and Facebook usernames will have to match a government supplied ID document to be granted verification, and users will have to have a profile picture that includes their face.
