Meta Subscriptions - things to consider!

Meta has just launched (but says ‘testing) 'Paid Subscription' which will include 'Verified Blue Badge' among other 'little' things.

However,

• This will not remove or reduce any advertisements.

• There is a talk of customer service but no clarity on that.

• You will need to pay per Instagram profile.

• You will need to pay per Facebook profile.

• You will pay $11.99 to $14.99 pm.

• That is $19.99 to 24.99 pm for Aussies.

Here are few things to consider real-quick before you make your decision –

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No Change in Advertising: Not only has Meta not offered to remove or reduce any advertising, but it has also not expressed any plans to modify advertising to give the paid subscribers a less spammy platform. You will continue to receive the exact same amount of advertising as you do as a free user.

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Opaqueness about Customer Service: While Zuckerberg and Meta talked about ‘Direct Access to Customer Support’ there is no word what it will look like and to what extent will it combat the unexplained, sudden shutting down of accounts that has become a daily outcry of 10s of 1000s of users. Looking at both official NEWS on Meta website, or short post by Zuckerberg, there just is not enough to know what the Direct Access to Customer Support will truly look like. Given so many unexplained shutdowns of harmless business pages, very canned to absent customer service, and simple refusal to explain 'why' tells a totally different story if Meta history in Customer Service is to be considered.

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Government ID and Meta’s Track Record: Zuckerberg mentioned ‘verify your account with a government ID’ however we all know the track record of Facebook (now Meta) with Cambridge Analytica, multiple ‘quiz’ apps that siphoned personal data away, and numerous whistle-blowers who have revealed how Meta plays favourites with ruling regimes. That is a big question mark right there.

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Meta, Democracy and Disinformation: Once again Meta has been in news and exposed by multiple whistle-blowers about its role or lack thereof in keeping disinformation, misinformation, propaganda, and even violent content in check on their platform. There are claims of democracies being affected by subverted in the news by many reputed news outlets. While Meta refuses all such claims it has never opened itself up for transparent audit, nor is there any real groundwork that shows a change in their strategy to combat these issues. And can we forget the evasive replies by Zuckerberg himself in front of US congressional hearing?

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Meta’s Conflict of Interest Relationships: Globally, in many parts of the world Metas has business relationships, partnerships and is even a shareholder of entities often accused of impacting political and socio-economic scenarios that put democracies and liberties in danger. Its partners are under the lens for ‘funding’ regimes that are destabilizing democracies, and Meta is accused of looking the other way to allow hate-speech, disinformation, propaganda published by allies of ‘favourite’ regimes of these business-partners.

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And I am only touching the surface for now. There is so much more we need to be curious about, ask questions and seek answers from Meta. I am going to keep an eye on the updates shared by Meta in coming days and firsthand experiences of subscribers who choose to opt-in as well as of those who choose not to subscribe to see where this goes.

If you are interested in participating, feel free to reach out to me via my socials or you can simply participate in the polls listed below on a platform of your choice.

With all the above in play, would you pay to be VERIFIED on Facebook or Instagram or both?

Participate in Twitter Poll here.

Participate in LinkedIn Poll here.

Participate in Spoutible Poll here.

Stay tuned for more updates on this in coming days!