My Perspective on Meta Selling Blue Tick Verifications.

If you’re considering purchasing a blue checkmark through Meta’s “Meta Verified” program on Facebook or Instagram to artificially boost your importance on these platforms, let me share my views on the matter. Meta now offers a package that allows you to save money when signing up for Meta Verified on both platforms, granting you a blue tick across all your Meta posts. However, the price is not exactly cheap at $42 per month or $504 per year (in Australian dollars), and it’s even more costly when subscribing individually for each app.

Personally, I find this approach to be quite expensive. The price tag, even for a fake sense of celebrity, may deter many users. It’s unfortunate that Meta requires separate subscriptions for each app, seemingly aimed at extracting more money from those who crave a sense of importance and use the checkmark as a status booster within the app.

My tone may indicate my disagreement with this approach, and for good reason. Selling verification ticks undermines the value of the offering itself, as the symbol gradually loses relevance when anyone can simply buy it. While the blue tick still holds some value on Instagram and Facebook since Meta hasn’t removed legacy checkmarks like Twitter did, the fact that only paid checkmarks remain diminishes its credibility. Additionally, Meta Verified customers enjoy dedicated in-person customer support, which is a significant advantage for some subscribers.

However, despite these factors, I believe the expense is not justified. Users are growing increasingly skeptical of the checkmark’s meaning, and as cynicism spreads, it becomes less reliable as an indicator of anything significant.

Nevertheless, some individuals will view it as a status symbol, finding excitement in seeing the tick next to their username. The number of people willing to pay for verification will likely support the program’s continuation, as it does on Twitter.

Nonetheless, this business choice seems peculiar, as it diminishes the value of the checkmark for actual celebrities who contribute to these apps’ popularity and drive substantial engagement.

It’s a situation that raises questions, but unfortunately, this is where we find ourselves. The very people who made the checkmark relevant now find it less beneficial, while the program continues to attract those who see it as a way to flaunt their online presence.