Meta also suddenly wants to throw itself into the battle for Premium members. You know: people who pay for a free service but with some benefits. In other words: you pay extra for a service like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook while it is always ‘free.’ Mark Zuckerberg partly reverses that and wants to see money for ‘Blue Facebook‘.
I have taken the plunge before regarding subscriptions for services such as Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. I’ve tried them, but in all honesty: it sucks. So the fact that Mark Zuckerberg briefly announced a Premium service last Sunday was absurd. Is there a market for that? Meta thinks so. Do you pull your credit card for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter?
Facebook copies Instagram and Twitter
Last Sunday, Zuckerberg announced a service that you have to pay for. It will cost you $11.99 on your PC and $12.99 on iOS. But what to do with it? According to The Zuck, it “helps creators establish their presence.” I smell hot air.
The company is currently testing Meta Verified, a new subscription bundle with a checkmark next to your name. Does this smack of Twitter? Definitely. It’s just Twitter Blue that Elon Musk introduced.
Previously, Facebook users were “verified” for their visibility, unique work, popularity, and other metrics. For example, brands, celebs, and other well-known companies were linked to those accounts. Now you have to pay for it.
Few Dollars For Some Extra Followers
Arguably, Facebook asks big influencers for money. They grab a lot of clothes thanks to their videos. Now Meta is following Twitter’s example to identify users better, which again takes a lot of work.
People on Facebook or Instagram can get a verification badge by authenticating their accounts with a valid government ID to ensure “the people you interact with are who they say they are.” But what can you do with that placard?
“You are you,” says Zuck: it is clear that no one is behind your account, and you can do what you want, but they know where to find you if necessary.
More parody defenses:
Accounts are better monitored, and action is taken if an account is a parody of yourself (which we never bother, but anyway).
Help, if necessary, according to the company. Facebook/Meta and Zuckerberg(?) offer help if you’re under fire because of a hacked account. I can already tell you; that won’t happen because Meta is the slowest juggernaut in the world when you file a complaint.
Increased visibility and reach: This includes searches, comments, and recommendations. In other words, if you don’t cough up $11.99, you’re just a pleb, according to Zuckerberg.
Pay more? What nonsense
So apart from the fact that you spend 70+ dollars on your streaming services (phone bill and internet costs not included), is Meta serious about charging $11.99 for features no one needs? What nonsense. We’ve been swallowing your crap commercials for years, Zuckerberg. Let’s send you an invoice.
It’s important to note that getting verified on Facebook is not guaranteed, and the platform has its criteria for who gets verified. Generally, Facebook looks for active accounts, has a large following, and is at risk of being impersonated. So, it’s best to focus on building an engaged and authentic following on the platform rather than just trying to get verified.
