Photo by Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Being verified on social media based solely on your celeb status is a thing of the past -- at least, it is on Twitter and now on Facebook and Instagram. Last week, Meta announced that Instagram and Facebook users over 18 in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand could subscribe to Meta Verified.

Also: If you want a checkmark on Twitter now, you're going to have to pay for it

Meta Verified subscribers receive premium access to exclusive features and have easier access to Meta account support. If you desire a blue check just for the aesthetics or if you've made a career out of social media influencing, here's how to get Meta Verified.

How do I buy Meta Verified?

To buy a blue check next to your name, open account settings, scroll to Accounts Center, then Meta Verified. If your account is eligible for subscription, you'll see Meta Verified available for your Instagram or Facebook accounts.

After you provide Meta with a photo of your government-issued ID, verifying your identity will take about 48 hours. You'll be prompted to enter a payment method after submitting your ID. Meta Verify costs$14.99/month for verification on the Facebook or Instagram app and$11.99/month to be verified on Facebook's web version.

Also: The best Twitter alternatives

You will have to subscribe for verification on Instagram and Facebook separately, paying about$27 monthly for verification on both platforms. 

If I'm already verified on Instagram or Facebook, do I need to subscribe to Meta Verified?

If you have a blue check on Instagram or Facebook, you don't need to subscribe to Meta Verified to keep your blue check. But if you choose not to subscribe, you won't have access to the exclusive features that come with a subscription.

What features come with Meta Verified?

When you buy a Meta Verified subscription, Meta says you'll receive access to stickers on Facebook and Instagram Stories that aren't available to non-subscribers. Meta Verified subscribers will also receive 100 Facebook Stars a month, a digital currency native to Facebook that enables creators to monetize their live streams.

Meta also promises subscribers proactive account protection that monitors the platform for possible impersonations. Plus, Meta says that subscribers will have access to direct support from a real person should an issue arise with their Instagram or Facebook accounts.

And, of course, subscribers have their identity verified with a blue check next to their Instagram or Facebook handle to "help your community know it's the real you," according to Meta.

Can anyone subscribe to Meta Verified?

Yes, anyone in the countries where it's been rolled out who is at least 18 years old and can provide a photo of a government-issued ID can subscribe to Meta Verified. 

What countries can access Meta Verified?

Right now, Meta Verified is available in three countries: Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. You can join the waitlist to be notified of when Meta Verified is available in your country. 

Twitter Blue vs Meta Verified: Which one is better?

That is up to you and your social media usage and goals. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are very different platforms where creators curate unique audiences and types of content. 

Also: Meta is developing a decentralized Twitter alternative

For now, it seems that Twitter Blue offers more useful features for Twitter creators. But if Meta Verified offers increased visibility for creators, it can help Instagram and Facebook influencers reach more people with sponsored posts and make more money. 

Depending on your type of content and your audience, here are some features to help you choose between a Twitter Blue and a Meta Verified subscription:

Twitter Blue features 

• Price: $8/month or$84/year.
• Edit tweets:For 30 minutes after posting a tweet, you can edit it.
• Longer tweets:Twitter Blue subscribers can post tweets up to 4,000 characters, compared to the 280 characters that come with a standard account.
• Longer videos:Subscribers can post videos that are up to 60 minutes long. 

Meta Verified features

• Price: $14.99/month per app or$11.99/month for Facebook web only.
• Account protection:Meta will monitor their platforms on behalf of Meta Verified subscribers to ensure there is no one trying to impersonate them.
• More Stars:Subscribers receive 100 Facebook Stars a month to gift to other creators.
• Stories stickers:Meta Verified subscribers can access exclusive stickers for Facebook Stories, Instagram Stories, and Facebook Reels.

Social Media

5 things to know about Meta's Threads app before you entangle your Instagram accountHow to download YouTube videosHow to join and use Twitter rival Bluesky SocialInstagram feed fix: How to see more of what you want (and less of what you don't)Micro-social media: What is it and which tools should you try?

• 5 things to know about Meta's Threads app before you entangle your Instagram account
• How to download YouTube videos
• How to join and use Twitter rival Bluesky Social
• Instagram feed fix: How to see more of what you want (and less of what you don't)
• Micro-social media: What is it and which tools should you try?