By David Young-
The owner of Facebook and Instagram has begun rolling out a paid verification service in the UK.
The service requires users to be at least 18 years old, and also requires that all users also submit an official ID to qualify.
The verified service has been available in the US since March, and in Australia and New Zealand since February. The paid verification service offered by Facebook and Instagram aims to improve the overall user experience, reduce the prevalence of fake accounts, and provide opportunities for legitimate accounts to establish credibility and reach a wider audience.
Those who use the Meta service will get a verified badge which the tech giant says will give them more protection from impersonation.
Meta says this is in part to its plans to monitor subscribed accounts to check for people who might create fake versions.
The verified service will be rolled out in the UK over the next few weeks and will be available for £9.99 for the web service and £11.99 for use on iOS and Android phones.
People who have registered interest in Meta Verified will receive a notification when it becomes available to them.
Meta offers the following breakdown of what users will receive:
A verified badge which confirms “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”
Meta’s move follows Twitter chief executive Elon Musk’s decision to implement a subscription service for his app in November 2022.
It was controversial at the time as it replaced an approach where blue ticks were used to verify that high-profile accounts belonged to the people they claimed to be.
Advantages
Paid verification on Facebook and Instagram offer several advantages. Firstly, it provides a sense of trust and reliability to users, as verified accounts are typically associated with public figures, celebrities, and brands. By implementing a paid verification service, Facebook and Instagram aim to prevent impersonation and minimize the presence of fake accounts.
Additionally, this paid service can benefit businesses and influencers who rely on social media platforms for promotion. The blue tick symbolizes legitimacy and can help boost their online presence, increase visibility, and attract more followers or customers.
Overall, the paid verification service offered by Facebook and Instagram aims to improve the overall user experience, reduce the prevalence of fake accounts, and provide opportunities for legitimate accounts to establish credibility and reach a wider audience.