Facebook owner Meta to roll out paid subscription from US$11.99 a month
- Meta Verified to include a handful of additional perks and features, including account verification badges for those who pay
- CEO Mark Zuckerberg said: ‘This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services’
Facebook, the social network that was supposed to stay free “always”, and its stablemate Instagram launched a paid subscription service, as the advertising-based business model that has long dominated the internet falters.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook parent Meta, announced on Sunday the launch of Meta Verified, a service starting at US$11.99 a month to authenticate one’s account, which follows a similar move by Elon Musk at Twitter.
“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,” Zuckerberg wrote in a statement posted to Facebook and Instagram.
Meta Verified will be rolled out in Australia and New Zealand this week before coming to markets in the United States and other countries.
Subscribers will get a badge indicating their account has been verified with a government ID, extra protection against impersonation, direct access to customer support and more visibility, according to the company.
The social media giant said the service would be primarily aimed at content creators looking to expand their presence on the platforms and could see adjustments after a test phase.