Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp verified accounts now cost money

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta appears to have borrowed a page from Twitter’s and Elon Musk’s playbook. The company previously known as Facebook announced Meta Verified earlier today. Meta Verified is a new subscription service that allows Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users to verify their accounts and get extra benefits in exchange for a fee.

With Meta Verified, users no longer have to apply individually for a business account on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. They can pay a monthly fee of $12 on the web or $15 on the Android or iOS app stores to get their identities verified across all three social media networks by submitting a government ID. (via Android Police)

Once a user gains the “Verified” status, they’ll get a blue badge and benefit from immediate customer support and active monitoring against identity fraud. Paying members also take advantage of prioritization in comments on Instagram, exclusive Instagram stickers, and recommendation slots on the IG Explore page and in Instagram Reels.

As You May Have noticed, there is a price difference between subscribing for Meta Verified on the web and subscribing via the Google Play Store or App Store. Facebook is charging more on mobile because it has to pay a fee to the app store owners, and the company (like many others) is passing those extra costs onto the users. So, if you’ll for your Meta verification using the Play Store on your Samsung device, you’ll be charged more than you would on the web. And the same would be true if you’d use an iPhone rather than a Galaxy phone or tablet.

Meta Verified is now rolling out in a couple of markets, namely Australia and New Zealand, where the service costs more like $20/$25 and $24/30, respectively. Mark Zuckerberg announced that the paid verification service will be available to customers in more countries soon.