Meta is to introduce a verification service called Meta Verified for Facebook and Instagram users. It will launch initially in test mode later this week in Australia and New Zealand, costing AUD$ 19.99 (£11.46) per month for web users and AUD$24.99 per month for iOS and Android users. Meta said it hopes to bring Meta Verified to the rest of the world “soon”. It will not be available for business accounts initially.

In return for the subscription fee, users will get a verified badge that authenticates their account; proactive account protection; access to account support; increased visibility and reach’ and “exclusive features to express yourself in unique ways”.  These include stickers on Facebook and Instagram Stories and Facebook Reels, and 100 free stars a month on Facebook to enable verified users to show their support for other creators.

Users will need to provide government ID showing their photo to sign up for Meta Verified to prevent people impersonating other users, as happened when Twitter introduced a similar service late last year.

In an Instagram post, CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote: “Long term, we want to build a subscription offering that’s valuable to everyone, including creators, businesses and our community at large. As part of this vision, we are evolving the meaning of the verified badge so we can expand access to verification and more people can trust the accounts they interact with are authentic.”