Meta Verified: I Paid for the Blue Tick so You Don’t Have to

When Meta launched its Verified subscription, I’ll admit I was curious. As someone running a visual business, building a blog, teaching design, and managing multiple content streams, I figured a verified badge might be a useful tool – if not for credibility, then at least for a bit of algorithmic love.

More reach, better support, protection from impersonators. That’s what was promised.

So I signed up.

Spoiler: I’ve cancelled it.

The Pitch Versus The Reality

Meta Verified came with a lot of noise. For €16.99 a month (or thereabouts), you get:

• A blue tick (without the whole ‘notability’ thing)

• Access to customer support

• Allegedly increased reach

• Identity verification and impersonation protection

On paper, it looked like an easy win. And as someone who’s already been hacked once, the idea of extra protection didn’t sound so bad. But 2 years (and 407.76 euros) later, here’s the honest verdict: I’m not convinced it did anything useful at all.

Did I Gain Reach?

Not noticeably. If anything, engagement felt a little flatter after subscribing. I kept checking insights, hoping to see a small bump. I even told myself to be patient – algorithms take time. But no, still tumbleweeds on certain posts, and nothing that justified the subscription fee.

To be clear: I wasn’t expecting miracles. But I was expecting something. Instead, it felt like buying VIP access to a party that had already ended.

Did I Get Better Support?

Slightly faster replies to help requests? Sure. But “priority support” mostly meant waiting in the same queue, just with a slightly nicer auto-response.

No real solutions. No actual people. At one point, I asked a question and received what looked like a generic FAQ link. I reported many bugs, things that didn't work for my account, and they kept going over the same generic answers without actually looking at my account. I never felt I 'spoke' with an actual person or they actually tried to find a solution that was specifically for me.

For a platform handling millions in ad revenue and creator content, it all felt oddly… robotic. And not in the efficient way.

Did the Badge Help?

Here’s the thing: I assumed a verified badge might do something. Make the account feel more secure. Boost visibility. Maybe even look a little more trustworthy to new visitors.

But honestly? No one seemed to care. The badge didn’t spark more interaction. It didn’t open new doors. And it certainly didn’t add value in any measurable way.

The Final Straw

It wasn’t one big moment. Just a gradual realisation that the only thing this subscription was reliably doing… was taking €16.99 from my account each month.

I wasn’t seeing improved visibility. I wasn’t using the extra tools. I wasn’t protected from anything. I was simply funding Meta’s experiment in monetising status.

So I cancelled it.

Would I Recommend It?

Honestly? Not unless:

• You have a real issue with impersonators

• You really want that badge for brand optics

• You’re already a high-profile creator and need the tick to match your press coverage

Otherwise, save your money. Invest it in better content, or a decent analytics tool, or literally anything else that actually helps your business grow.

Final Thoughts

The irony is that social media was meant to be the great equaliser. Instead, we’re left with paid badges and subscription-only visibility perks that promise more than they deliver. Meta Verified felt like paying for importance – only to discover the algorithm isn’t impressed either.

So if you’re debating whether to sign up, consider this your permission slip to pass.

And if you already signed up and are now glaring at your credit card bill – cancel away. You’re not missing much.