Instagram has been testing new ways to push more people into buying a verification badge. The Meta-owned company has allowed users to select what feed they would prefer to see based on all the people they are following or only a few favourites. However, according to Instagram head Adam Mosseri’s broadcast channel on Instagram, the company may soon allow users to view posts only from verified users. The feature is currently being tested, and Instagram is seeking feedback from users to develop it further.
On his broadcast channel, Instagram head Adam Mosseri posted a picture which shows three choices of how a user would prefer their feed to be. The three options include a feed from Following, Favourites and Meta Verifies users. According to his post, this will be a new way to make businesses and creators increase their visibility.
The new feature, which allows users to watch Instagram reels and posts from only Meta Verified accounts, is in the testing phase and is available only to select users. The company has not revealed who will be the users to get access to this test feature. It is also unclear if this feature will be limited to a few regions or globally. Based on the feedback received, the company would further make changes to the new feature.
However, this step could be a way to push more accounts to switch to a verified account. According to Meta’s recent policies, anyone can opt to pay and buy the verified badge at a nominal subscription fee. An official announcement by the company stated that Meta Verified could be purchased for mobile apps at a monthly subscription for Rs. 699 on iOS and Android, while the price is fixed at Rs. 599 for verification on the web version.
In order to be Meta Verified on Instagram in India, one has to be at or above 18 years of age. They also need to have an official government ID where the name and photo match that on the Instagram or Facebook account.