Meta introduces its own Subscription Service

In my previous blog about Twitter pushing its subscription model at a global scale, I mentioned how other social media platforms are starting to experiment with the model. Now, as of writing this blog, Meta, who owns Facebook and Instagram, has officially launched its own subscription service in the US called the Meta Verified Program.

According to the reporting of Social Media Today, users will be able to purchase the “verified” feature on both Instagram and Facebook “for $US 11.99 per month on the web, or $US 14.99 in-app, accounting for respective App Store charges.” Interestingly, the price only applies to one platform, meaning if the user wants to be verified on both platforms, they would have to pay $US 23.98 a month in total on the web, and $US 29.98 in-app.

Photo captured from the official Meta website.

Users will be able to verify their identity by providing Meta with their government issued IDs, and the features that comes with the service, according to Meta’s website, include:

• Account verification through a blue checkmark next to account name.

• “Proactive protection” from impersonation, meaning you will have more protection against social media identity theft than the average user.

• You get direct care and support from the customer service team.

• Access to additional features, as of now include stickers for Facebook and Instagram reels, and “100 Stars a month on Facebook so you can show your support for other creators.”

According to CNBC, Mark Zuckerberg just announced even more layoffs earlier this month. The launch of this service is timed in the midst of its economic instability. It is starting to become evident that Meta either needs the extra source of income or the extra value proposition to attract and retain users on their platform. Following his report, Andrew Hutchinson from Social Media Today argues that the ability to buy the blue checkmark eliminates the exclusivity of the blue checkmark itself, and that Meta either really needs the “extra cash” as “it evidently doesn’t see this being a dilution of the value of the blue tick. Or it doesn’t care, because some people will pay.”