While Meta Verified service will be available to iOS and Android users, the social media giant has plans to roll out a web and mobile-based monthly subscription of INR 599 for Facebook users only
The subscription bundle offers features such as impersonation protections, account verification via government ID, and access to account support
The move is part of Meta’s strategy to build a long-term revenue funnel and to expand access to the verification badge to more users
Social media giant Meta on Wednesday (June 7) rolled out its ‘Meta Verified’ service in India. The service has already been launched in a few countries.
“We’re expanding our test of Meta Verified to India after seeing good results from our early testing in several countries globally. We’ll also continue honoring verified badges that were granted previously based on existing criteria,” Meta said in a statement.
In addition, the social media major said that there will be no changes to accounts that were previously verified.
Meta Verified is a subscription bundle that offers verification for Facebook and Instagram accounts. It provides features such as impersonation protection, account verification via government ID, and access to account support.
The Meta Verified service will be available in India for a monthly subscription of INR 699 for iOS and Android users (for both Instagram and Facebook profiles). The company also plans to roll out a web and mobile-based monthly subscription of INR 599 for Facebook users only.
The full-scale announcement comes after an initial pilot of the service in Australia and New Zealand. The company said it has made certain adjustments based on its learnings from the test run to commence the launch of Meta Verified in India.
Besides India, Meta Verified has also been launched in the UK and Canada, with Brazil expected to join the list soon.
The move is part of Meta’s strategy to build a long-term revenue funnel and to expand access to the verification badge to more users. India, with a huge chunk of users, presents a lucrative opportunity for the company to leverage the service.
The company has also underlined a long list of eligibility criteria to be able to access the service. This includes the age threshold of 18 years, along with minimum activity requirements such as prior posting history.
In the next stage, the user will be asked to submit a government ID that matches the profile name and photo of the profile they are seeking validation for. Some of the applicants may also be asked to submit a selfie video as part of the authentication process.
Meta claims that it proactively monitors its platforms for account impersonation after an account is verified.
“We’re also committed to continuous monitoring and review of reported violations, as well as taking swift action against those who try to evade our systems,” the social media giant.
While the rollout commenced on June 7, the service will be made available for all eligible Indian users over the next few weeks. For the INR 599 service, users will have to join a waitlist before they can avail the upcoming service.
Curiously, businesses will not be able to apply for the Meta Verified currently, as per the company.
Meta’s tryst with the subscription model comes close on the heels of Twitter launching its Twitter Blue service in the country. Twitter’s subscription is priced at INR 900.
With this, the companies aim to tap into the burgeoning Indian social media market. India, which had 46.7 Cr social media users at the end of January 2023, is one of the biggest markets for these companies.
