TechDroider has reported some concerning news about the spread of Twitter’s tactic of monetizing their blue check verification on accounts. Similarly to the purchasable account verification on Twitter, TechDroider shared a set of screenshots on February 17 that suggests that Meta, who presides over Instagram and Facebook, wants to implement a pay-for-account verification program as well.
The screenshots show a Meta help center page where the company mentions a Meta Verified subscription, which seems comparable to paying to get a verification badge on users’ profiles. It notes that those who purchase Meta Verified may be privy to additional features on social media platforms. Although the company hasn’t confirmed anything yet, and the links included on the screenshots don’t lead to actual web pages, the subscription proposition doesn’t seem to be too surprising, given the program’s implementation on Twitter.
Just Like @elonmusk Twitter, Meta is working on a Paid Verification Badge Service “Meta Verified” for Instagram or Facebook Accounts. pic.twitter.com/S3Y5vXi6O8
— TechDroider (@techdroider) February 18, 2023
Meta Verified will be available to verify profiles only, not Pages. pic.twitter.com/8NkvYgj0BP
— TechDroider (@techdroider) February 18, 2023
Meta Verified will be available to verify profiles only, not Pages. pic.twitter.com/8NkvYgj0BP
— TechDroider (@techdroider) February 18, 2023
Since the blue check became buyable, Twitter users have been up in arms about it.
Y’all can pay for a blue check monthly, but not life insurance 😮💨
— kash__x3 (@thaboyzmom3) February 14, 2023
Twitter can’t force me to buy a little blue checkmark, so it’s decided to withhold basic features. And when I try to turn off that feature, its infrastructure is so shitty that it doesn’t even work. Elon Musk you’re such a loser pic.twitter.com/07iUngDELO
— ꋬ꒯ꋬꂵ ꏂ꒒꒒꒐ꇙ (@adamtotscomix) February 18, 2023
At this point I’m just seeing how many followers I can gain WITHOUT being given a blue checkmark. Cause you KNOW I’m not giving Apartheid Clyde 8 whole dollars 😭
— Alexis Nikole Nelson (@blackforager) February 9, 2023
so here’s a thing: at this point the blue checkmark loses literally all value. If the schemata you are valuing the value of a checkmark is that it’s something that shows you are popular or cool, and you take that from the popular/cool/influential, what does it mean? https://t.co/ZkAjn3fHLk
— Ed Zitron (@edzitron) February 10, 2023
The estimated price of Meta Verified or the release date hasn’t been revealed yet.
