Meta is testing a new subscription service in an effort for its creators who wants to establish a presence on its platforms. This will include account verification to prevent impersonation and increase visibility and support access.
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A person walks past a newly unveiled logo for "Meta", the new name for Facebook's parent company, outside Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park on October 28, 2021. - Facebook changed its parent company name to "Meta" on October 28 as the tech giant tries to move past being a scandal-plagued social network to its virtual reality vision for the future.
Testing Meta Verified
Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg announced a new offering called Meta Verified. According to Meta's released statement, this is a subscription bundle for both Instagram and Facebook that will make users' accounts verified.
Not only does it verify a particular user, but this will also make it easier for creators who want to establish a presence by building their communities on Facebook and Instagram. Zuckerberg noted, "This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services."
Once users subscribe to Meta Verified, they will get a verified badge to confirm that their accounts are authenticated, protection from impersonation with proactive account monitoring, access to help when needed, and increased visibility and reach. They would also include more exclusive features in the future once the testing has been done.
Meta Verified will begin testing in New Zealand and Australia this week. The subscription service will cost users $11.99 per month for the web and $14.99 for Apple and Android operating systems.
The New York Times reported that the subscription service is expected to expand to the United States in the upcoming weeks, but no confirmations on which countries will be included regarding the expansion of Meta Verified.
The company clarified that this change would not affect users who already earned their verification before Meta Verified's release. This offering aims to build a valuable subscription service for creators, businesses, and communities.
"As part of this vision, we are evolving the meaning of the verified badge so we can expand access to verification and more people can trust the accounts they interact with are authentic," Meta stated.
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Following Twitter Blue
The announcement of Meta Verified follows Twitter's subscription service called Twitter Blue. This would let users secure their accounts through two-factor authentication. For $8 per month, users will also get a blue check mark and other exclusive features like an edit button.
Associated Press reported that social media companies are trying to find new revenue resources as digital advertising reduces in the market. In Meta's case, the company heavily relies on advertising revenue, which makes them one of the most affected by the decline.
Meta announced during its third-quarter earnings call that the revenue declined despite increasing user count. The company also announced that it was laying off 11,000 employees, affecting 13% of its workforce, in an effort to reduce costs.
Because of this, Zuckerberg declared 2023 as the "Year of Efficiency," as the company will now focus on becoming a stronger and more nimble organization.
Related Article: Meta Increases Spending for Zuckerberg's Personal Security Despite 'Year of Efficiency'
