@disruptmagazine

class="content__text" Today, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta, the parent company of both Instagram and Facebook, is testing paid verification on the platforms. For $12 per month, you can get a shiny blue checkmark on your profile next to your name just like most celebrities, athletes and public figures. To become Meta Verified, you still need to submit a government ID like the old Instagram verification process. Plus, Meta supposedly offers additional safeguards against fake accounts, although we still don't know what those are. Hopefully, Meta's new verification feature won't cause a flood of fake verified accounts like what happened on Twitter last year. According to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, a "Meta Verified" account will grant you a verified badge, increased visibility on the platforms, prioritized customer support, and more. The feature's rolling out to Australia and New Zealand this week and will arrive in more countries "soon." To become Meta Verified, you must be at least 18 years old, meet minimum activity requirements, and submit a government ID that matches the name and photo on your Facebook or Instagram account. And if you do sign up, you'll get more than just a blue checkmark. You'll also receive exclusive stickers for Stories and Reels, as well as 100 free stars per month, which you can use to tip creators on Facebook. Keep in mind that businesses can't apply for a Meta Verified badge yet, and you can't change your profile name, username, birthday, or profile photo without going through the verification process all over again. Overall, Meta's new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across their services. Will you be signing up for Meta Verified? Let us know in the comments below!

February 24, 2023