Meta introduces verified subscriptions following Twitter’s example

The recent developments surrounding Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter have garnered a lot of attention on the social media platform. It seems that other tech giants, particularly meta, have been taking notice as well. Just last week, the company announced that it was testing a new verified subscription service that may sound familiar to Twitter users who have been following the news.

To fully understand the context of this announcement, we need to go back to November 2022 when Musk took over as the CEO of Twitter. One of the first things he did was to launch a service called Twitter Blue, which allowed users to obtain a blue check mark typically reserved for celebrities, journalists, and politicians, among others. This verification system helped users distinguish between real and fake accounts.

Now, meta is testing a similar subscription service, which could indicate that other tech giants are taking a page out of Twitter’s book. It remains to be seen how this new service will be received and whether it will be able to compete with Twitter Blue. Nonetheless, it’s clear that the world of social media is constantly evolving, and companies are always looking for ways to stay ahead of the curve.

Twitter’s paid verification system, Twitter Blue, has made the once-elusive check mark accessible to anyone who can pay for it. However, the new system has not been without its problems. Almost immediately, impersonators began creating fake accounts that looked like major figures and businesses, paying for Twitter Blue and spreading misinformation on the app.

One account impersonating Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical giant, tweeted that “Insulin is free now,” causing the company’s stock to drop by 4%. Other accounts impersonating Pepsi and Tesla also appeared, causing concern among users.

As a result of these issues, Elon Musk paused the Twitter Blue rollout just days after its launch and launched a revamped version a month later. Despite the changes, uptake has been slow. The latest version of Twitter Blue costs $8 per month on the web and $11 on iOS.

Recent reports in online news have shown that as of mid-January, only 0.2% of Twitter’s monthly active users have signed up for a new service that Elon Musk had hoped would be a significant source of revenue for the social media platform. The low uptake of the service has caused some people in the industry to question why Meta, Twitter’s competitor, has decided to launch a similar service.

While Twitter’s new service aims to allow users to earn money directly from their followers, Meta’s offering is slightly different. Verified users on Facebook and Instagram can pay to have their accounts verified and gain direct access to Meta’s customer support. In addition, Meta claims that verified accounts will receive more visibility on the app, which could help them “grow their presence and build community faster.”

This aspect of Meta’s verification service may be particularly alluring to content creators who are looking to build a larger following. By increasing their visibility on the app, verified users could potentially attract more followers, which could lead to greater monetization opportunities. This is especially important for content creators who make a living from their online presence, as they need to constantly expand their reach to increase their earnings.

Despite the similarities between Twitter’s and Meta’s services, it remains to be seen whether Meta’s offering will be more successful than Twitter’s. Nevertheless, the fact that Meta is entering the market with a similar service suggests that there is demand for such a feature, and it will be interesting to see how both companies compete in this space.

Meta is taking steps to appeal to more content creators and influencers from TikTok. One of the ways they are doing this is by introducing Mana verified, which rolled out last week in New Zealand and Australia. This is seen as a way to entice creators to their platform. According to Mark Zuckerberg, Mana verified will soon be available worldwide for a slightly higher price than Twitter Blue.

While this move may help Meta appeal to more creators, it’s uncertain whether it will be profitable. Twitter’s Twitter Blue numbers have been lagging, and so it’s unclear whether Meta’s Mana verified feature will boost their bottom line. However, this is what tests are for – to determine the effectiveness of new features.

Unfortunately for Meta, it seems that Elon Musk’s tactics are becoming popular in the tech industry. And if Meta wants to become the next big influencer platform, they will need to stay on top of the latest trends and continue to innovate.

What is your opinion on Meta’s decision to introduce verified subscriptions following Twitter’s lead? Share your opinion in the comment section below.