Meta has introduced its ‘Meta Verified’ service in India on Wednesday (June 7), following its launch in several countries. The company stated that the decision to expand the test to India was based on positive results from early testing worldwide, and existing verified badges will still be honored.
Meta Verified is a subscription bundle that offers verification for Facebook and Instagram accounts, providing features such as impersonation protection, government ID-based account verification, and access to account support. In India, the service is available for a monthly subscription fee of INR 699 for iOS and Android users (covering both Instagram and Facebook profiles), and a web and mobile-based monthly subscription of INR 599 exclusively for Facebook users.
After conducting an initial pilot in Australia and New Zealand, Meta has made adjustments based on the test run to launch Meta Verified in India. The service has also been launched in the UK and Canada, with Brazil expected to follow soon.
The move is part of Meta’s strategy to establish a long-term revenue stream and extend access to the verification badge to more users. Given India’s substantial user base, the country presents a lucrative opportunity for the company to leverage this service.
To access Meta Verified, users must meet a range of eligibility criteria, including being at least 18 years old and having a minimum posting history. Additionally, users will be required to submit a government ID that matches their profile name and photo, and some applicants may need to provide a selfie video for authentication. Meta claims to proactively monitor its platforms for account impersonation after verification.
While the rollout began on June 7, the service will be gradually made available to all eligible Indian users over the coming weeks. Users interested in the INR 599 service will need to join a waitlist to avail the upcoming service. Notably, businesses are currently unable to apply for Meta Verified.
Meta’s introduction of the subscription model follows Twitter’s recent launch of its Twitter Blue service in India, priced at INR 900. Both companies aim to tap into the rapidly growing Indian social media market, which had 467 million users as of January 2023, making it one of the largest markets for these platforms.
