The announcement of Meta selling blue ticks for a monthly subscription has created quite a buzz in the social media world. While some people have criticized the move, others have welcomed it. Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, falls in the latter category and believes that the move was inevitable. Let's dive deeper into the topic and understand the different aspects of it.
The coveted blue tick
The blue tick on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram has become a symbol of credibility and authenticity. It signifies that the account is genuine and belongs to the person or entity it claims to be. This has become more important in recent years as the number of fake and spam accounts on social media has increased. Therefore, the blue tick has become a sought-after badge for individuals and businesses who want to establish their legitimacy on social media.
Twitter Blue and Meta Verification
Twitter launched Twitter Blue in 2022, which allowed users to purchase a blue tick for a monthly subscription. The move was met with mixed reactions from users, with some saying that it was a good move while others criticized it. The feature was restricted to only a few countries at the time of the launch, but it has been rolled out globally since then.
Also Read: Meta Launches Paid Blue Badge For Facebook, Instagram At $11.99 A Month
Elon Musk's Reaction
Elon Musk, who is known for his outspoken nature on social media, reacted to the news of Meta selling blue ticks. He commented on a Twitter post that said that Mark Zuckerberg was copying Twitter with the new verification system. Musk said that the move was inevitable, implying that it was bound to happen sooner or later.
The difference between Twitter Blue and Meta Verification
The most significant difference between Twitter Blue and Meta Verification is the power of choice. While Twitter no longer lets people get verified by old methods, Instagram still has that option. People can still get verified on Instagram if they meet the platform's verification eligibility criteria without paying anything. However, that is not the case with Twitter.
Moreover, Musk has made it quite clear that people who got verified on Twitter prior to the rollout of Twitter Blue subscription will have their blue ticks snatched away. The legacy blue ticks, as per Musk, are 'corrupt' and will be removed soon. Meta, on the other hand, has not said anything about what will happen to accounts that are already verified.
Mark Zuckerberg's Announcement
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, shared the announcement on his Facebook handle and wrote that the new verification subscription feature was about 'increasing authenticity and security across their services'. He said that the feature would let users verify their account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be them, and get direct access to customer support. He also said that the feature was about increasing authenticity and security across their services.
Final Thoughts
The decision of Meta to sell blue ticks for a monthly subscription has received mixed reactions from social media users. While some have welcomed the move, others have criticized it. Elon Musk believes that the move was inevitable and that it was only a matter of time before other social media platforms followed in Twitter's footsteps. It remains to be seen how successful Meta's verification feature will be and whether other social media platforms will follow suit. However, one thing is clear - the blue tick is still a symbol of credibility and authenticity on social media, and it will continue to be sought after by individuals and businesses alike.