May 16, 2023
Facebook and Instagram paid verification starts in UK
Facebook parent company Meta has begun rolling out a paid verification service in the UK. Similar to Elon Musk's Twitter Blue, the service gives Facebook and Instagram users a blue tick from £9.99 per month. Mr Musk removed what became termed "Legacy" verification ticks from account holders on 20 April - reserving the "Verified" blue badge for those who had paid for Twitter Blue, and authenticated their phone number. The blue tick removal process led to mass confusion as high-profile users like Hillary Clinton lost their verification badges and subscribers were able to edit their own username to impersonate them. Both Facebook and Instagram already have a verification system for notable figures, and Meta does not appear to be planning to scrap this anytime soon. The decision to add a paid-for verification system amounts to a change of direction for Facebook and Instagram, which have previously both been free to use in all circumstances since they rose to prominence.
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