Facebook recently announced that it will start allowing any user to purchase a blue verification badge for their profile for a monthly subscription fee. This new paid verification system has generated a lot of buzz and questions around how much the blue badge will cost and what the requirements will be.
The blue verification badge on Facebook has long been reserved for public figures, brands and organizations that meet certain criteria to authenticate their identity on the platform. Up until now, general Facebook users have not been able to obtain the coveted blue checkmark badge next to their profile names.
However, this all changed when Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook will now allow any user to subscribe to get a verified blue badge on their profile. This option will be available everywhere that Facebook operates, including on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.
But how much will this new paid verification system cost? Let’s take a closer look at the details surrounding the pricing and eligibility requirements for Facebook’s new blue verification badge subscription.
Facebook’s Paid Verification Badge Pricing
Facebook has confirmed that users will need to pay a monthly subscription fee of $11.99 in order to receive the blue verification badge on their profiles.
This $11.99 per month price point was initially reported by tech expert and industry commentator Matt Navarra based on screenshots of the verification badge pricing in Facebook’s internal systems. The pricing was then officially confirmed by Mark Zuckerberg soon after on his social media profiles.
So for a cost of $11.99 per month, any Facebook user can now subscribe to get the blue verification checkmark badge on their profiles, which was previously only available to celebrities, public figures and brand accounts.
Regional Pricing Variations
While the base price for Facebook’s new paid verification badge is $11.99 per month, there will be some regional pricing variations depending on location and local costs.
For example, in New Zealand and Australia the monthly subscription cost will be $16.99 NZD and $15.99 AUD respectively. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa it will be priced at €11.99 EUR per month. And in Latin America it will cost $13.99 per month for subscribers.
So the pricing is standardized at the equivalent of $11.99 USD in each market, but adapted to local currency rates.
Eligibility Requirements
In addition to paying the $11.99 monthly subscription fee, there will also be some eligibility requirements users need to meet in order to qualify for the blue verification badge.
Here are some of the key requirements Facebook will implement for paid verification badge subscriptions:
- Users must be over the age of 18
- Accounts must be in good standing and not violate Facebook’s community standards policies
- Users must submit a government ID that matches their Facebook profile name and photo
Requiring users to submit valid government-issued IDs helps Facebook confirm that subscribers are using their real identities on their profiles.
Facebook will also utilize some undisclosed measures to determine account authenticity and prevent fake accounts from being verified through the paid badge subscriptions. This may involve assessing account activity patterns and histories to identify potential inauthentic behavior.
How Long Will Verification Last?
Once approved for the paid verification badge subscription, users will retain their blue checkmark for as long as they continue paying the $11.99 monthly fee.
If a subscriber cancels their verification subscription, the blue checkmark will be removed from their profile after a set period of time. However Facebook has not yet communicated how long that grace period will be before the checkmark is revoked.
Subscribers can cancel and reactivate their paid verification subscription at any time directly through Facebook’s subscription management screens. So verification status can fluctuate depending on whether the user has an active subscription or not.
What Verified Accounts Get
Aside from the prestigious blue checkmark icon next to their names, what other benefits will verified users get for their $11.99 monthly subscription fee?
Here are some of the key perks and privileges paid verification badge holders will receive:
- Increased visibility and reach for their posts and comments
- Direct access to Facebook customer support agents
- Protection against impersonation accounts
- Exclusive Facebook Profile badge customization options
Facebook has indicated that the increased visibility and prioritization for verified accounts will help amplify their voices and make them stand out more in comment threads, recommendations and distributions.
Additionally, verified users will have direct customer support access via Facebook’s help center and potentially even a support hotline. This could help address issues faster than regular users who rely on community forums and automated responses.
Having the blue badge should also deter impersonation accounts from targeting verified users and misrepresenting themselves as the authentic profile.
Lastly, Facebook hinted at special profile customization content only for paid subscribers, such as exclusive cover photos and animated sticker packs. So verified accounts may get access to some unique cosmetic features.
Pros of Paid Verification
There are some potential benefits to Facebook’s new paid verification system. Here are some of the key pros:
- Increases authenticity by requiring ID verification
- Discourages fake accounts and impersonation
- Lets ordinary users get a verification badge
- Provides monetization opportunity for Facebook
By tying ID validation to the verification process, it should cut down on the number of total fake and duplicate accounts on Facebook. This promotes more authentic interactions.
The threat of losing the badge and the $11.99 monthly fee also creates a monetary deterrent against violating Facebook’s policies and engaging in bad behavior on the platform.
Paid verification opens up access to the coveted blue badge to millions of ordinary users who were never eligible before. Now anyone can potentially get verified if they pay.
And creating a new paid product gives Facebook an incremental revenue stream outside of ads, data and commerce-driven earnings.
Cons of Paid Verification
However, there are also some notable downsides and criticisms around Facebook’s move to a paid verification model:
- Places credibility symbols behind a paywall
- Could allow misinformation spreaders to “look” verified
- May confuse consumers used to earned verification status
- Perceived as monetizing identity and integrity
Requiring users to pay for verification badges fundamentally changes the meaning and purpose of the blue checkmark icon. It evolves from an earned symbol of credibility into a purchasable status symbol.
This also risks allowing misinformation accounts to appear more credible at a glance if they pay for verification. It could lend unwarranted legitimacy to otherwise dubious profiles.
Those used to seeing blue checkmarks as an indicator of authenticity may be confused by unpaid public figure accounts lacking badges. So it takes some education to understand the changes.
Some critics argue Facebook is capitalizing on selling identity and integrity as a paid service, while undermining the unpaid verification criteria.
Table of Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Increases authenticity through ID verification | Puts credibility symbols behind a paywall |
| Discourages impersonation and fake accounts | Allows misinformation spreaders to appear verified |
| Lets ordinary users get a blue badge | Confuses those used to earned verification |
| Provides monetization for Facebook | Seen as monetizing identity/integrity |
Expert Opinions
Here are some expert takes on the implications of Facebook’s new paid verification model:
Alex Kantrowitz – Web3 and Big Tech Reporter
“This seems dangerous. Twitter’s current verification system was alway a bit messy but it constrained verification to criteria the company decided mattered – mainly identity and reach. With this approach, Facebook risks compromising the meaning of verification altogether.”
Brooke Erin Duffy – Professor at Cornell University
“While Facebook’s decision opens verification up to many more users, it does call into question the value of a blue checkmark. Verification has never been a perfect system, but de-coupling it from identity muddles its purpose and meaning.”
Pinar Yildirim – Associate Professor at Wharton Business School
“Moving to a paid subscription verification model likely won’t solve misinformation — the economics could even make it worse. Bad actors with an incentive to spread false content will pay the fee, so I’m skeptical this will improve matters.”
SignUp Process
Users interested in subscribing to Facebook’s paid verification badge can sign up directly within the Facebook app on iOS and Android devices or on the Facebook.com desktop website.
Here is an overview of the signup and onboarding process to get verified on Facebook:
- Open the Facebook app on mobile or www.facebook.com on desktop
- Go to the Facebook Profile Settings screen
- Tap “Subscription” or “Subscriptions” in the menu
- Select the option to subscribe to “Facebook Verified”
- Choose payment method and enter billing details
- Submit a valid government ID for age and identity verification
- Confirm profile information matches ID documentation
- Check eligibility criteria such as account history and violations
- Await Facebook review for final approval (may take a few days)
- Blue badge will display upon successful subscription activation
The process involves standard subscription signup flows plus ID validation steps for verification. Facebook mentioned potentially expanding ID verification methods over time.
Early Reaction
Facebook’s shift to a paid verification model has drawn a variety of reactions so far across social media, news commentary and from experts.
Some of the key early takes on the blue badge subscription plan include:
- Confusion and wariness around diluting verification meaning
- Criticisms that this monetizes identity and integrity
- Accusations of Facebook being “greedy” andprofit-driven
- Questions about the effectiveness for reducing misinformation
- Debates over whether $11.99 per month is overpriced
- Interest in increased authenticity from required ID checks
- Intrigue over how many users will actually pay for verification
While some see potential benefits, there is considerable uncertainty and skepticism around the implications. It remains to be seen how users’ perceptions and behaviors will change once paid verification badges start rolling out.
But the move represents a major shift in using the blue checkmark as an earned status symbol of identity versus a paid feature anyone can access. The long-term impacts this may have on trust and transparency across Facebook’s apps remains to be seen.
Conclusion
Facebook’s new paid verification model will allow any user to get the coveted blue checkmark badge for a $11.99 monthly subscription fee. While expanding access, it calls into question the meaning of verification as an earned credibility signal.
On one hand, mandated ID checks and financial stakes could reduce impersonations and fake account creation. But it also risks allowing misinformation and hate speech purveyors to slip through if they pay.
Monetizing verification has clear business incentives for Meta. But it comes at the potential cost of further muddling what the checkmarks represent and mean to the average user.
For $11.99 per month, anyone can now project an image of legitimacy on Facebook with the verified badge. But it remains to be seen whether paid verification will create a more authentic and informed community – or simply make it easier for bad actors to purchase trust and credibility.