The ins and outs of the Instagram Verification Badge
7 December 2023 / The Right Mix
Meta Verified is a subscription service that helps everyone easily get the hard-to-get blue check badge on Instagram and Facebook. How does it work, how much does it cost, and who can sign up?
“We’re testing a way for people to explore their Instagram feed and reels by toggling to only Meta Verified accounts,” Mosseri wrote in his broadcast channel on Instagram. “We’re exploring this as a new control for people and as a way for businesses and creators to get discovered.”
Who can get Instagram Verified?
There are now two ways to get verified badges on Facebook and Instagram:
- If you are a celebrity, public figure, or well-known brand, you can request a verification badge on Instagram or Facebook.
- If you are an individual, you can apply for Meta Verified once it’s available in your area.
Because the Meta Verified program is new, not every profile is currently set up for Meta Verified options. Individual profiles for adults in the United States, Australia and New Zealand can activate a Meta Verified subscription on their account. Business profiles are not eligible for Meta Verified subscriptions yet.
Minimum eligibility requirements to verify your Instagram profile include:
- Be a public or private profile associated with your full name, align with naming standards, and have a profile picture that includes your face.
- Have two-factor authentication enabled. (Can be completed after payment.)
- Must meet minimum activity requirements
- Meet Meta’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines.
Those who don’t yet have Meta Verified in their region can join the Instagram waitlist to get notified when it does become available.
Verified badges are visible in the following locations on Instagram accounts:
- On your profile
- In Reels, Stories, and Feed
- Next to your profile pic in direct messages
- In search results, next to your name and profile photos
- Next to your profile photo in the comments section
- If you have multiple profiles on Instagram, each profile must have its own Meta Verified subscription, and purchasing a Meta Verified subscription on Instagram won’t transfer over to your Facebook account.
Building Trust and Quality
The verified-only feed wants to make the content we see on Instagram more reliable. By only letting verified accounts into the feed, Instagram is trying to cut down on fake profiles and robot interactions. This might give us a safer and more real place to connect, share, and interact. For brands, it’s a chance to make sure their messages reach a savvy and verified audience.
In the midst of a digital world full of wrong info, a verified-only feed could be like a trustworthy lighthouse. Users could scroll through their feeds, knowing that what they see is for real and trustworthy. This change could shake up how influencer marketing works, putting a big value on being genuine.
Customer service access
A common complaint from Instagram users has been an inability to get help from the platform’s customer service reps when needed, paying for verification will get you access to a real person.
Exclusive features
Verified account holders can get exclusive stickers on Instagram Stories.
Increased visibility
Although it’s too early to confirm the impact, Meta is claiming that verified subscribers will get more visibility as suggested accounts to follow, recommendations under Explore and Reels, and in search and comments on other people’s photos and videos.
As great as verified genuine and credible content sounds, there are some concerns as well.
A Possible Split and Getting Too Caught Up in Approval
Even though the verified-only feed has good intentions, it’s raised some worries and guesses. One concern is that it might create a kind of digital hierarchy, where non-verified users might feel left out. Does not having a blue checkmark mean your content or influence isn’t as important? This exclusivity might accidentally make content creators and users without the sought-after verification badge feel left out.
Moreover, there’s a worry that this change could make the already big focus on seeking approval on social media even stronger. By putting so much importance on the blue checkmark as a sign of credibility, it might accidentally make people think content without verification is not as good. This brings up ethical questions about how it could affect the mental health and well-being of users who might feel left out in the race for online approval.
What does it cost to become verified?
Instagram views this new feed as a clever strategy to boost interest in Meta Verified subscriptions. Meta Verified is priced at $11.99 per month on the web and $14.99 per month on mobile – with users getting the perks as listed above like a blue checkmark, top-notch customer support, expanded visibility in searches and comments, exclusive stickers, and a bunch more other goodies.
Finding the Right Mix
Whether the verified-only feed sticks around or is just a test, for it to work well, Instagram needs to carefully balance being real and making everyone feel welcome. Social media does have important values in today’s society: connecting with others, being real, and celebrating different voices.