Meta announces paid subscription service for Facebook and Instagram

The move is about 'increasing authenticity and security across our services'

Mark Zuckerberg has announced a new paid subscription service for Facebook and Instagram, granting users a blue check for a monthly fee. The Meta CEO revealed Sunday that Meta Verified will cost $11.99 a month on web, and $14.99 on iOS and will launch in Australia and New Zealand this week ahead of a wider rollout. Zuckerberg said the subscription lets users verify their account with a government ID and will give them a blue badge along with "extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get direct access to customer support". He said the move is about "increasing authenticity and security across our services."   The Facebook founder said providing direct access to customer support will cost the company "a significant amount of money," which will be offset by subscription revenue. The moves follows Elon Musk launching a revamped version of its own blue tick verification service, Twitter Blue. It allows users to get a verified profile and other benefits. Musk introduced Twitter Blue soon after acquiring the social media platform for $44 billion last year. At the time he said Twitter had seen a "massive drop" in revenue, something Meta is also currently facing. Shares of the company's stock dropped about 54 per cent since its September 2021 high and it has laid off about 11,000 workers in recent months. Meta released its third consecutive quarter of revenue declines this month and laid off 11,000 employees — 13 per cent of its workforce — in November to become "a leaner and more efficient company," Zuckerberg said, according to a report by ABC. New subscribers to Meta Verified will not be able to change any profile details, like the picture, name and username, "without going through the Meta Verified subscription and verifications application process again." Meta said there will be "no changes to accounts on Instagram and Facebook that are already verified based on prior requirements, including authenticity and notability." Related links:

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