Meta Verified is rolling out this week in Australia and New Zealand, with phased rollouts in other countries to follow (Photo: Unsplash)

Mark Zuckerberg follows in Elon Musk’s footsteps by copying Twitter’s paid verification feature for Facebook and Instagram.

On Sunday, Facebook owner Meta announced it was testing a monthly subscription service called Meta Verified.

Similar to Twitter Blue’s paid blue check, the new feature allows users to verify their Facebook and Instagram accounts with government-issued ID and receive a blue badge.

Launching later this week, the Instagram and Facebook subscription bundle also includes additional identity protection and costs from $11.99 (£9.90) per month on web or $14.99 (£12.37) per month on Apple and Android iOS systems.

Meta Verified is rolling out this week in Australia and New Zealand, with phased rollouts in other countries.

Mark Zuckerberg follows in Elon Musk’s footsteps by copying Twitter’s paid verification feature for Facebook and Instagram (Image: AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Meta’s foray into subscription services follows Twitter, which began handing out $8 a month blue checks as part of its premium service, Twitter Blue.

Zuckerberg has previously announced plans to launch several new products that would “enable manufacturers to be much more productive and creative,” while warning of the costs associated with supporting the technology for a large user base.

Last November, Zuckerberg laid off 11,000 employees across Facebook and Instagram and slashed spending plans for what Zuckerberg called the “Year of Efficiency.”

Meanwhile, Zuckerberg continues to invest money in his reverse investments, which could take about a decade to pay off.

In the meantime, he had to stop hiring, close projects and reorganize teams to cut costs.