Instagram and Facebook to charge monthly fees for verified accounts
Meta is testing a verification program that will charge users on Facebook and Instagram monthly paid subscription fees to have verified accounts, according to a company announcement on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Meta said, “We’re beginning to test Meta Verified in Canada to help creators establish their presence and build community faster on our platforms. This subscription bundle on Instagram and Facebook gives creators broader access to verification and account support in English, and French in the coming days.”
“Meta Verified is available for direct purchase on Instagram or Facebook. Canadians can purchase a monthly subscription for (CAD) $15.99 on the web and (CAD) $19.99 on iOS and Android.”
Elon Musk appears to have started a trend when he began charging users $10 to $15 if they want to have a verified twitter account with a blue checkmark.
Social media experts said it's a logical next step for Meta to try and make money on its platforms by rolling out paid monthly subscriptions for verified accounts.
"I’m not surprised at all. We are entering a phase of paidification if we are going to be able to use the vast amount of information for free” said Mohit Rajhans, co-founder of Think Start Inc.
According to a statement, Meta Verified Features will include a verified badge, confirming you’re the real you and that your account has been authenticated with a government ID.
There will be more protection from impersonation with proactive account monitoring of people who might target accounts with growing online audiences. There’s also help when you need it with access to a real person for common account issues and exclusive features to express yourself in unique ways.
Getting help when problems arise on Facebook and Instagram has been a common complaint.
"With the new subscription bundle they will also get a live agent who will be able to work with you closely with the issues you are having with your account," said Janita Pannu, with OPIIA Digital Marketing Agency.
It's not clear how many of the millions of Canadians who use Facebook and Instagram will pay for a monthly subscription. It may make your account less likely to be hacked and keep your information safer, but it really depends on what you use the platforms for.
"If I was advising someone right now I wouldn't run out and start paying for this verification in order to validate myself. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to understand its value," said Rajhans.
Meta has already tested the paid subscription plan in New Zealand and Australia, but the company faces an uphill battle as Twitter is also having difficulty getting people to pay for something they can still use for free.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Black youth face multiple barriers in accessing mental health care, experts say
Black youth in Canada face multiple barriers in getting access to mental health services — and health-care providers can make the situation more difficult, experts say.
Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an ever-growing appetite for social media video
Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte, N.C., home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered rifles descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gunfire from the direction of his neighbor's house.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Israel has briefed U.S. on plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of potential Rafah operation
Israel this week briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants, according to U.S. officials familiar with the talks.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.