Meta has officially launched its subscription service, where Facebook and Instagram users will pay for their account verification. The "MetaVerified" service is now available in the United States after it was first launched in Australia and New Zealand last month. Verified users will have a blue badge proving the authenticity of the account.

Users will verify their accounts using a government ID. Meta said in a statement that the web version will cost $11.99 per month and the version for Apple iOS and Google Android will cost $14.99 per month.

The blue check mark has been a coveted symbol on the social media platform as it was previously only available to public figures such as politicians, actors, musicians, athletes and journalists. Musk opposed the idea and believed that the blue check mark should be available to everyone.

After Musk took over Twitter and introduced subscription fees, Snapchat and messaging app Telegram also followed Twitter's lead. Now Facebook and Instagram have also followed the subscription fee trend, marking the latest effort by social media companies to diversify their revenue beyond advertising.

On March 17, Zuckerberg said on Instagram's Meta Channel: "Today, Meta's authentication service (Meta Verified) is launched in the United States. After verification, users can earn badges, actively protect against phishing, and get direct access to customer support."

Meta Verified subscribers will not be able to change their profile name, photo, username, or date of birth unless they are willing to complete the verification process again.

The verified service, on the other hand, comes with exclusive stickers on Facebook and Instagram Stories and Facebook Reels, and 100 stars per month on Facebook that users can use to show support for other creators.

How do I verify my account?

To use the verification service, users need to navigate to Settings on Instagram Facebook and click on Account Center. If the subscription service is available for your account, you will see "Meta Verification Available" below your name and profile picture.

Starting today, users can access the online sign-up waiting list . In addition to the monthly fee, users must be at least 18 years old. Two-factor authentication is also required. Next, you need to select your preferred payment method for your monthly plan and then complete the verification process.