Facebook owner Meta is rolling out a verified subscription bundle as it looks to claw back revenue. The Meta Verified subscription will be available for Facebook and Instagram, with a monthly charge for those who want to take advantage of a number of premium features.
It comes at a tough financial time for tech firms, with Facebook and Google lay-offs taking place and streaming giant Netflix poised to charge people for sharing their passwords.
So, what is the new Meta Verified offering, why is it happening, and most importantly, should you get it? Here’s everything you need to know.
Meta, the company that owns Facebook, is introducing a verified subscription bundle in an effort to increase revenue. For those who would like to use a number of premium features, the Meta Verified subscription will be made available for Facebook and Instagram.
It comes at a difficult time for tech companies financially, with layoffs happening at Google and Facebook, and Netflix preparing to charge users for sharing their passwords.
What exactly is the new Meta Verified offering, why is it being introduced, and most importantly, should you purchase it? Here is all the information you require.
What is Facebook’s new Verified offering?
Following in the footsteps of Elon Musk’s Twitter, Meta Verified is a way for the social network to make money from users in an era when advertising no longer offers the same reward. Today’s users are much more aware of companies such as Facebook and their controversial use of tracking and data collection, which has been compounded further by Apple’s iPhone privacy changes.
With this in mind, Facebook owner Meta will offer a number of premium features and a “verified” badge in exchange for a monthly subscription fee.
In a new blog, Facebook has described what you’ll get:
Meta Verified is a way for the social network to monetize users in an era when advertising no longer provides the same reward, following in the footsteps of Elon Musk’s Twitter.
Users today are much more aware of businesses like Facebook and their contentious methods of data collection and tracking, which have been made worse by Apple’s iPhone privacy changes.
Due to this, Facebook’s owner Meta will charge a monthly subscription fee in exchange for a number of premium features and a “verified” badge.
Facebook has detailed what you’ll receive in a brand-new blog:
- A verified badge, confirming 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.
- Help when you need it with access to a real person for common account issues.
- Increased visibility and reach with prominence in some areas of the platform– like search, comments, and recommendations.
- Exclusive features to express yourself in unique ways.

Meta is kicking off with a gradual test in Australia and New Zealand later this week to “learn what’s most valuable” before rolling the offering out to the rest of the world “soon.” People can purchase a monthly subscription for (USD) $11.99 on the web and (USD) $14.99 on iOS and Android.
A monthly subscription to Meta costs (USD) $11.99 on the web and (USD) $14.99 on iOS and Android. Meta is starting with a gradual test in Australia and New Zealand later this week to “learn what’s most valuable” before rolling the offering out to the rest of the world “soon.”
Why is Meta Verified happening?
Apart from the obvious quest to make money, the new Facebook verified offering is aiming to protect verified accounts—or so Meta says. Many people lose access to their Facebook and Instagram accounts each year and for creators and businesses, this can be especially devastating.
Once you are hacked, Facebook makes you jump through a number of complicated online hoops to try and get your account back. Even once you’ve done that, getting Facebook to help is very difficult.
The new Facebook verified offering, according to Meta, seeks to protect verified accounts in addition to the obvious financial gain. Each year, a large number of users lose access to their Facebook and Instagram accounts, which can be devastating for businesses and creators.
Facebook makes you go through a number of challenging online hoops after a hack in order to try and regain access to your account. Even after you’ve done that, it’s very challenging to get Facebook to assist.
“Some of the top requests we get from creators are for broader access to verification and account support, in addition to more features to increase visibility and reach,” Facebook owner Meta wrote in its blog. And of course, it wants people to pay for this.
The subscription offering is currently in the trial phase. Meta has assured people there won’t be changes to accounts on Instagram and Facebook that are already verified “based on prior requirements, including authenticity and notability.”
“Long term, we want to build a subscription offering that’s valuable to everyone, including creators, businesses, and our community at large,” the Mark Zuckerberg-owned firm wrote.
The company claims the subscription bundle will make people safer on Facebook, so you know that the people you’re interacting with “are whom they say they are.” To be eligible, accounts must meet minimum activity requirements, such as prior posting history, and be at least 18 years old.
Applicants are then required to submit a government ID that matches the profile name and photo of the Facebook or Instagram account they’re applying for. Subscriptions will include proactive monitoring for account impersonation.
Businesses are not currently eligible to apply for Meta Verified, the company continued.
However, your real name will be the only one supported by Meta Verified on your profile. Once your profile has been verified, you cannot change the profile name, username, date of birth, or photo without reapplying for Meta Verified membership and verifications. But Meta’s proposed solution to require government-issued identification in exchange for a verification tick has potential dangers, as the information you provide must be protected, says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET. “While this may seem like a safety measure, it creates potential security risks as the data must be robustly protected from attackers,” he says.
Additionally, it’s unclear how this will prevent impersonation on Facebook and Instagram for fraudulent accounts that don’t choose to pay for verification, he adds. “The move towards this new structure appears to be driven by a desire for monetary gain and it’s uncertain whether real enhanced security will be an add-on feature.”
The benefits of paying to get Meta verified:
We’ve all heard horror stories about people we know who had their beloved Facebook or Instagram accounts hijacked, as cybercrime has increased and social media hacking has become a common occurrence. Years’ worth of family pictures and memes vanished in an instant, not to mention the money an influencer made.
Access to Meta’s customer service support, which many inactive members haven’t had until now, can be obtained by paying to be verified.
This means that if your page was hacked or held for ransom, you might now be able to contact someone — something that many people might not be able to quantify.
1. The ability to delete any fake accounts. It has been confirmed by Mark Zuckerberg in his post that it is much simpler to have fake accounts deleted if you choose to pay Meta to play the verification game because “they know the real you.” This is another function that will be useful because I frequently hear from clients that “fake” accounts are created by individuals, who are then sent messages pretending to be them
2. A rise in social media presence, especially on Facebook and Instagram. This could be a game changer for many people who rely on their social media accounts to leverage their personal brand since Meta has confirmed in an official media release that paying to be Meta Verified will offer “increased visibility and reach with prominence in some areas of the platform — like search, comments, and recommendations.” Any competitive edge you have over someone who isn’t Meta Verified could make a difference for your personal brand, especially if you’re the face of your company.
The algorithms and reach of these social platforms are constantly changing.
3. Special features. Meta has also announced that for those who opt in, “exclusive features” will allow you to “express yourself in unique ways”. Sounds very Madonna!
Why you shouldn’t pay to get verified:
1. Businesses cannot currently use the paid Meta Verified program; only personal accounts can. Therefore, you must go through the initial approval process if you still want to have your brand or company verified.
2. If the name on your account does not exactly match the name on your government identification. Only your real name will be supported by Meta on your profile. You must repeat the Meta Verified subscription and verification application process if you want to change your profile’s name, username, date of birth, or photo after it has been verified.
3. You’d like to leave an impact. Sadly, the blue tick will no longer be exclusive because it is now available to everyone in Australia and New Zealand and will soon be everywhere else. The more users who pay, the more widespread the tick will become, quickly causing it to lose its appeal.
Should you get the new verified offering?
You cannot currently obtain Meta Verification outside of Australia and New Zealand because it is still in testing. Naturally, the new Facebook offering could fail, particularly if customers in those markets don’t use it. 😊
If you’re enjoying reading my blogs, you can consider visiting my other topics here. Or you can also visit my YouTube Channel for more free tips and learnings. Click Here!