Meta Rolls Out Complimentary Meta Verified Subscriptions to Select Creators

Meta is ramping up efforts to promote its Meta Verified subscription program by offering it for free to select creators. As revealed by Threads user @ayfondo and shared by social media analyst Matt Navarra, some creators are now being informed that they’re eligible to receive a complimentary one-year Meta Verified subscription.

This strategic giveaway highlights Meta's ambition to boost interest in its paid verification program and incentivize broader adoption among its creator community.

What Is Meta Verified?

Meta Verified is Meta’s subscription-based verification service, modeled after X’s (formerly Twitter’s) paid verification approach. The service includes:

• A blue verification checkmark for identity confirmation

• Enhanced account support and protection

• Profile customizations and add-on elements

• Access to exclusive features and direct customer service

The offering is pitched as a tool for "valued creators", aiming to improve their in-app experience, safeguard their presence on the platform, and help distinguish them in crowded social spaces.

A Strategy to Attract Creators and Grow Adoption

Meta has long pursued strategies to attract influencers and creators from rival platforms, and free access to Meta Verified appears to be part of this broader initiative. By gifting subscriptions to influential users, Meta is likely hoping to:

• Increase visibility for the program

• Create buzz within creator communities

• Build credibility around the blue checkmark once again

This trial period could encourage creators to adopt the service long-term, especially if they experience tangible benefits in engagement or security.

Is Meta Verified Really Popular?

Despite Meta’s push, the company hasn’t released official numbers on how many users have subscribed to Meta Verified. However, a look at Meta’s Q1 2025 earnings provides some insight. The company’s “Other” revenue stream — which excludes sales from Reality Labs — rose by around $280 million per quarter compared to when Meta Verified launched in Q2 2023.

Based on this data, analysts estimate that Meta has likely sold about 7 million Meta Verified subscriptions to date. While that’s a notable figure, offering the service for free to select creators suggests that take-up may not have met expectations.

The Problem with Paid Verification

Meta, like X and Snapchat, turned verification into a paid feature to generate new revenue streams. However, this move has faced criticism for diminishing the symbolic value of the blue checkmark.

Previously, the verification badge signified:

• A high-profile presence

• A significant follower base

• Credibility or notability in real life

Now, any user can pay to get verified, reducing the blue tick to a status symbol rather than a mark of authenticity. This erodes trust and confuses users, especially those trying to identify genuine public figures or trusted creators.

Revenue vs. Reputation: A Difficult Trade-Off

Meta Verified may generate hundreds of millions in quarterly revenue, making it hard for Meta and others to walk away from the idea — even if it undermines the original purpose of account verification.

For platforms like Meta, X, and Snapchat, these add-on subscriptions aren’t expected to be core revenue drivers, but they provide incremental income in a competitive market. However, this revenue comes at the cost of reducing the credibility and trustworthiness associated with the blue checkmark.

Final Thoughts: Strategic, But Still Controversial

Offering free Meta Verified subscriptions is a smart growth tactic, especially when targeting influential creators. It gives Meta a chance to demonstrate value, gather feedback, and potentially convert free users into paying ones later.

However, whether this approach will restore the lost credibility of the checkmark, or merely serve as a short-term marketing push, remains to be seen. For now, Meta is banking on visibility and creator loyalty to expand the reach of its verification service — even if the symbol no longer carries the prestige it once did.