According to parent company Meta, Instagram and Facebook users will be able to purchase a blue tick verification.
The change, as CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg stated, would increase authenticity and security on social media apps.
Social media users expressed their dismay with the new service and accused Mark Zuckerberg of selling what should be free.
Meta’s Paid Verification Service
On February 19, Meta revealed that it is testing Meta Verified, a new subscription bundle that features account verification with impersonation protection as well as access to more visibility and support.
Later this week, the company will launch a gradual test in Australia and New Zealand to determine what users find most important.
People can buy a monthly subscription for (USD) $11.99 on the web and (USD) $14.99 on iOS and Android.
Meta then intends to roll out Meta Verified to the rest of the world shortly after.
In a blog post, the business stated that it wants to make it simpler for people to have a presence so that they can concentrate on growing their communities on Facebook or Instagram.
Musk called Meta's move "inevitable," though whether it will be successful is unknown.
Did Mark Zuckerberg Copy Elon Musk’s Feature?
The move was taken after Twitter's owner, Elon Musk, launched the premium Twitter Blue membership in November 2022.
Twitter Blue is a paid subscription that gives your account a blue checkmark and gives you early access to certain features.
Pricing for a paid Twitter subscription starts at $8 per month or $84 per year.
Will Meta Experience the Same Problems as Twitter?
A chaotic wave of impersonation occurred shortly after Twitter unveiled the feature, with paid blue tick accounts impersonating well-known people and companies.
Misbar traced many fake accounts with "verified" profiles using the names of public figures, famous people, well-known businesses, and organizations that started to surface on the platform.
The company had to deal with the problem by halting the feature after being overrun by impersonators.
Twitter's paid-for verification feature is being rolled out again, but with some changes.
According to Twitter's own account, check marks were replaced with either gold (for businesses) or gray (for others such as authorities) badges.
Twitter Blue Service Previously Triggered Misinformation
Fake verified accounts, such as that of former U.S. President George W. Bush, published contentious messages.
Misbar previously discussed a Twitter verification troll that targeted Eli Lilly and Company and brought down the stock price.
A fake verified account impersonated Eli Lilly and Company and tweeted "insulin is free," causing the shares to drop $14 billion.
The business's official Twitter account later warned users and expressed regret for the confusion: "We apologize to anyone who received a misleading message from a bogus Lilly account. @LillyPad is our official Twitter handle."
Moreover, Twitter verified accounts impersonated Casio and tweeted satirical messages purporting to be the company's response to Shakira's song criticizing her ex-boyfriend Gerard Piqué.
Misbar refuted the claim in a blog post.
Technology Editors’ Analysis of the Paid Verification Service
Zoe Kleinman, a technology editor, analyzed how Meta imitated Twitter policy by saying, "Elon Musk's experiment has proved that people are still prepared to pay for an enhanced experience."
Dan Ives, an analyst at the U.S. financial services firm Wedbush Securities, said announcing a subscription service is an apparent reaction to issues that have already led Meta to announce plans to eliminate 11,000 positions.
"Meta is seeing clear headwinds on the digital advertising model and this is a low-hanging-fruit way to potentially pick up some incremental revenue," he says.
According to Kat Molesworth, co-founder of the Creative Union, Meta should not be charging for services.
"I would question if it’s appropriate to charge creators, who contribute to Meta’s massive profits, for basic features," she said.
Criticism Targets Meta’s New Service
A wave of criticism erupted after Meta's parent company announced the new subscription bundle.
Several social media users tweeted their dismay with the new service.
A satirical meme has gone viral on social media, with users making fun of Mark Zuckerberg.
A Twitter user expressed their outrage with the new service and asked why the company is trying to sell “what should be free?”
Another Twitter user hoped the Facebook company would go bankrupt and sack Zuckerberg and its top executives.
Misbar’s Sources:
