Instagram, one of the popular social media platforms, is experimenting with a trailblazing feature that will showcase posts solely from Meta Verified and legacy-verified users, as revealed by Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram. This new function will be made accessible under the options “Following” and “Favorites,” which appear once you tap the Instagram logo within the app.
Instagram is embracing a new change, testing a dedicated feed for Meta Verified users.
A New Avenue for User Exploration and Discovery
Through a statement on his Instagram broadcast channel, Mosseri indicated, “We’re testing a way for people to explore their Instagram feed and reels by toggling to only Meta Verified accounts. We’re exploring this as a new control for people and a way for businesses and creators to get discovered.”
Contradictory Statements and Surprise Revelations
This official confirmation comes as a surprise, especially considering that Instagram had denied testing such a feature to TechCrunch two months prior. The speculation began when reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi discovered code in iOS and Android Instagram apps, indicating a new feed filter for Meta Verified users.
Instagram’s Drive for Meta Verified Subscriptions
It appears that Instagram views this new feed as a strategy to promote Meta Verified subscriptions and pique user interest in signing up. The Meta Verified subscription, priced at $11.99 per month on the web and $14.99 monthly on mobile, offers users a blue checkmark, improved customer support, enhanced visibility and reach in search and comments, exclusive stickers, and more.
Meta’s Playbook: Echoes of Elon Musk’s Strategy
Meta is emulating Elon Musk’s strategy with the new Verified-only feed and the overarching concept of Meta Verified. After buying Twitter (now known as X) last fall, Musk introduced a paid verification for $8 per month via the revamped X Premium subscription service. The subscription provided users with a host of features, including a Verified tab in user notifications, alongside other features such as an edit button and more extended post support.
