Meta Implementing Subscription Verification Features Starting From IDR 187 Thousand

Meta paid verification illustration (photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that they will soon launch a new subscription service called Meta Verified, which allows users to verify their accounts.

This feature was first discovered by an app developer Alessandro Paluzzi on Twitter, who said that Instagram was working on a subscription package on its platform, and eventually it became a reality.

"Good morning! New product announcement: this week we started rolling out Meta Verified - a subscription service that lets you verify your account with a government ID, getting a blue badge," Zuck said on its broadcast channel on Instagram, Sunday, February 19.

According to his explanation, by paying for verification starting at 11.99 US dollars (Rp187,000) per month on the web and 14.99 US dollars (Rp233,000) per month on iOS, you will get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and gain direct access to customer support.

"This new feature is about improving authenticity and security across our services," the Meta CEO continued further.

Subscription prices will include Instagram and Facebook. Unfortunately, this new subscription feature just rolled out in Australia and New Zealand this week. However, Zuck said it would reach more countries in the future.

Following Twitter's move to launch Blue, it appears that this subscription feature for verification is meant to help monetize the Meta platform.

Furthermore, the company spoke to Engadget that subscriptions will only be available to users aged 18 years and over. Meta will also require potential customers to share IDs issued by the government that match profile names and photos on their Facebook or Instagram accounts.

Almost like Twitter Blue, once your account is verified, you won't be able to change your profile name, username, date of birth, or photo without going through the verification process again. Verified accounts before today's announcement for notification will remain verifiable.