Meta has made an announcement about the launch of the Meta Verified bundle, which can be directly purchased on Instagram or Facebook in India. Users now have the option to buy a monthly subscription for Rs 699 on both iOS and Android devices. Meta also stated that in the upcoming months, they will introduce a web purchase option for Rs 599 per month.

The company said, "We decided to expand our test of Meta Verified to India after seeing positive results from our initial tests in various countries worldwide. We will continue to recognise the verified badges that were granted before based on the existing criteria."

This offering includes a verified badge that confirms the authenticity of an account through a government ID, proactive account protection, and access to account support. As Meta expands the availability of Meta Verified to more locations, they are also considering adding additional features to the subscription. They will share more details about these features when they are ready.

Based on the initial test of Meta Verified in Australia and New Zealand, some adjustments have been made to the offering. One of the changes includes the removal of increased reach for additional test countries. The same approach will be followed for India. Meta is exploring additional features to include in the subscription as they roll out to more places, and they will provide more information when ready.

With Meta Verified in India, users will receive:

A verified badge confirms the authenticity of their account and that it has been verified with a government ID.
Enhanced protection from impersonation through proactive account monitoring for impersonators who may target users with growing online audiences.
Assistance with common account issues. Currently, support is available only in English, but Hindi support will be added in the coming months.

The company wants to assure users that verified badges obtained before the introduction of Meta Verified will still be valid. These accounts underwent a thorough verification process to ensure their authenticity and are more vulnerable to impersonation than regular accounts. Meta has implemented various checks for Meta Verified, both before and after the application:

Accounts must meet certain minimum activity requirements, such as having a history of posts, to be eligible for verification.
Applicants need to submit a government ID that matches the profile name and photo of their Facebook or Instagram account.
Meta Verified subscriptions include proactive monitoring to detect and address impersonation attempts on the account.

Creators in India expressed their excitement about Meta Verified, considering it a value proposition that will accelerate the process of building a strong presence on Instagram and Facebook. They see it as a seal of legitimacy and security that will provide permanence to their presence and help them build a large and loyal following.

Meta clarified that businesses are currently not eligible to apply for Meta Verified. Those interested in purchasing through the web can join the waitlist through the Facebook Web Account Centre to receive updates on its availability.

Meta launches Verified Badges at Rs 699 Per Month