Meta is considering new options for its Meta Verified subscription package.
Have you ever considered paying for verification on Facebook or Instagram?
What if Meta added new features for paying users, like the ability to add links to videos?
This is one of several options that appear to be under discussion as Meta looks for ways to encourage more widespread use of its Meta Verified program.
Meta Verified survey
Meta is sending out a survey to some users to find out what features they would be willing to pay for in their apps.
Meta has listed the following options as potential add-ons that could attract sign-ups:
Original content protection (with human verification)
Accelerated ad verification
Expanded access to customer support
Links in ads (8 per month)
Monitoring of support requests
Alternative display for brand messaging
Alternative brand confirmation icon (e.g., gold checkmark X?)
Here are some interesting considerations, although I'm not sure any of them are significant factors that will lead to a significant increase in subscriptions.
Indeed, it's been a year since the launch of Meta's paid "Meta Verified" subscription, which provides a verification badge, additional impostor protection, special support (which is basically just regular ad cabinet support) and more for the low price of just $11.99 per month (when purchased online). Many users seem to have cooled on this offer.
Meta hasn't provided any official data on the release of Meta Verified, but looking at Meta's fourth quarter performance numbers, it comes out that Meta probably sold several million subscriptions between the second and fourth quarters of last year. "Other" revenue for Meta grew by more than $100 million during that period, and a significant portion of that amount presumably came from verified subscribers.
No surprise. The app family (Facebook, Messenger, IG, and WhatsApp) has nearly 4 billion users, and about 5 million subscribers represent less than 1% of the total user base, which is about the same statistic as most social subscription offerings.
An extra $100 million a year or so would definitely make the program worthy of further investment and attention. But at the same time, as with the X verification initiative, the mere fact of selling badges reduces their perceived value, so really, the more subscriptions Meta sells, the less they're worth (in the eyes of pollsters) anyway.
Perhaps some of the add-ons listed are worth it, but if you're investing $144/year in platforms that are also available for free and whose scope is increasingly narrowed (unless you're creating videos), you're probably better off investing that money in ad campaigns.
The results may vary, and some will see the benefit of subscribing to Meta Verified (some still see it as a symbol of "awesomeness"). But right now, I don't think it's the most important thing to them.
Although, if Meta added increased reach as originally announced, that could be interesting. But... unfortunately it hasn't moved beyond promises.