Here’s how to pay to be verified on Instagram and Facebook

The blue tick first rolls out in Australia and New Zealand.

The blue tick is the stuff that social media dreams are made of. If you’ve been desperate to get the all-allusive verified symbol next to your name, you’ll be excited by the latest technology news. Meta has confirmed that users can now pay to be verified on Instagram and Facebook.

The parent company Meta has unveiled its latest service, which costs $11.99 a month on the web and $14.99 for iPhone users. The first markets to access the service will be Australia and New Zealand. The paid subscription will be available for individuals and is currently unavailable to businesses.

The blue tick verifies that an account is owned and operated by the specified individual or organisation. The blue tick was first introduced on Twitter in 2009 and set a trend that other social media platforms followed. Facebook introduced it in 2012, and Instagram introduced it in 2014. In 2022, Elon Musk acquired Twitter and announced that it would offer paid for verifications, which received widespread criticism.

Now, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta chief executive, is introducing paid for verification on Instagram and Facebook. In order to prevent fake accounts, users will need to supply a government ID document and use a profile picture of their face. Plus, users must be aged at least 18 years old. Mark explained: “This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services.”

Meta added on its blog: “Some of the top requests we get from creators are for broader access to verification and account support, in addition to more features to increase visibility and reach. Since last year, we’ve been thinking about how to unlock access to these features through a paid offering.”

Would you pay for a blue tick?

GO: Visit https://about.meta.com for more information.