Content creators welcome Meta Verified, say it will protect ideas and identity

Following the steps of Twitter, Meta Platforms on Sunday announced that it is testing a paid monthly subscription service called Meta Verified, which will allow users to verify their accounts with a government ID and earn a blue badge, as it aims to help content creators grow and build communities.

With Meta Verified, one can get the following benefits:

• A verified badge, confirming you’re the real you and that your account has been authenticated with a government ID.
• More protection from impersonation with proactive account monitoring for impersonators who might target people with growing online audiences.
• Help when you need it with access to a real person for common account issues.
• Increased visibility and reach with prominence in some areas of the platform – like search, comments and recommendations.
• Exclusive features to express yourself in unique ways.

The Instagram and Facebook subscription bundle, expected to launch later this week, also includes additional protection against identity theft and starts at $11.99 per month on the web or $14.99 per month on Apple iOS and Android.

Commenting on this development, Sahil Chopra, CEO and Founder, iCubesWire, remarked, “The introduction of this new feature just months after Twitter's revamp and relaunch of Twitter Blue is truly impressive. Meta aims to help budding creators strengthen their online presence and build their community faster with this new service. The new update will introduce a verified badge to confirm users' identities with a government-issued ID and offer proactive account protection, account support, and enhanced visibility and reach. In addition, the update will provide exclusive access to features that enhance visibility and reach in certain parts of the platform, including search, comments, and recommendations.

Content creators, too, are upbeat about this new feature. Vansh Pandya a GenZ digital content creator, believes that this new model introduced by Meta will help him grow as a creator. He added, “I like to believe that I am an artist before a content creator. Content creation is a medium by which I showcase my work and thoughts and in the process entertain my audience. What demotivates me in this case is when I see my content not reaching my audience optimally.”

Pandya further said that there might be initial issues of adjustment and adaptation, but the entire point is to help and protect the users. “For someone who uses social media every single day, this new model seems like a promise to serve and protect both my identity and my ideas at a large scale,” he affirmed.

“Personally, I am happy about the newly introduced models by Meta. Not only will it protect the users and their information, but help artists like me by protecting our work from being exploited,” said Omkar Bolke, another digital content creator. He added, “When I think of a certain idea, it is developed and modified from a situation I relate to. I put in all my efforts to entertain my audience and stay consistent. What actually hurts or demotivates me is when certain individuals misuse my content or simply use it without accreditation.”

Digital content creator Sumeet Kamath, explained that with a surge in both content and creators, it gets difficult to ensure the one’s work reaches their audience before it becomes irrelevant. He felt that while Meta’s new subscription model might receive backlash from many, it is actually a good decision from his perspective as a creator. “It helps me know that my content and integrity is protected from exploitation. It might take a while to get adapted among the Indian audience, but as Indians, we are surely willing to adjust for the sake of our entertainment,” he added.

“Ideating everyday to give out the best content, staying consistent and relatable, gets to you sometimes,” said digital content creator Aditya Thakare. He further said, “The new model by Meta is honestly a positive step forward, according to me. It might look like they are following Twitter, but I believe it is a way to protect the user’s identity and information. This model will also help us creators feel gratified for the hard work we put in by getting the opportunity to reach our audiences in an optimal way.”

Jag Chima, Co-Founder, IPLIX Media noted, "Platforms across the board are introducing new updates to build on the current monetisation plan that would benefit both sides of the spectrum. However, the update may change the entire perception of having a blue tick. Being verified by a platform is a status symbol for creators. The more accessible it will become, the less value it would drive. It is possible that in the short term, it will help in boosting the visibility of micro and nano content creators."

Chima concluded, "In conclusion, while the ability to purchase a verification badge may provide some creators with a quick and easy way to gain visibility, it could potentially devalue the badge for those who have earned it through the years."