The Million Dollar Question (Except It's Not Actually a Million Dollars, But Still Pretty Important): How Much Does that Fancy Blue Tick Cost on Instagram?
Ah, the elusive blue tick. The beacon of fame. The virtual equivalent of a velvet rope and a bouncer named Steve who remembers your name (and, more importantly, remembers that you tip well). Us mere mortals gaze upon verified accounts with a mixture of envy and burning curiosity: just how much does that little blue badge cost?
Well, buckle up, friends, because the answer is... it depends.
Hold on, you cry, throwing your metaphorical popcorn into the air. This is worse than tax season! Don't worry, I haven't gone rogue and joined the dark side of accounting (although, let's be honest, spreadsheets can be kind of sexy). Here's the breakdown:
- The OG Blue Tick: Free, But With a Catch (and It's a Big One)
In the olden days (which, in internet time, is like, two weeks ago), getting verified was a right of passage for celebrities, athletes, politicians, and your aunt who makes those amazing crocheted tea cozies for all the family pets. There was no price tag, just a whole lot of proving you were actually who you said you were. Think graduation ceremony, but instead of a toga, you wear a pile of tax returns and passport photos.
- Meta Verified: The New Kid on the Block (and It Charges Rent)
Meta, the folks who brought you both Facebook and Instagram, decided to shake things up a bit. They introduced Meta Verified, a subscription service that slaps a blue tick on both your Facebook and Instagram profiles for a cool $11.99 per month (web) or $14.99 per month (mobile). Think of it like a VIP pass to the club of verified accounts, except instead of waiting in line, you just pay a cover charge.
But here's the thing: This fancy new service doesn't actually follow the same verification process as the OG blue tick. With Meta Verified, you just gotta cough up the dough and be over 18 (sorry, little Jimmy with your fire kazoo covers).
So, to Recap:
- OG Blue Tick: Free, but requires proving you're basically famous (or at least newsworthy).
- Meta Verified: Pay to play, with a blue tick and some other perks (like priority customer service, which sounds fancy but basically means you get to wait on hold slightly less than everyone else).
The Final Verdict: How Much Does it Really Cost?
The real cost depends on what you're after. Do you crave the prestige of the OG blue tick? Then get ready to put in the work of proving your awesomeness to Instagram. Do you just want a blue checkmark and some bragging rights? Then Meta Verified might be your thing (although, prepare to explain to your friends why you're basically paying for a blue checkmark).
Ultimately, the choice is yours, my friend. But remember, a blue tick doesn't guarantee internet fame (although it might help). The real key is to keep posting awesome content, be yourself (even if yourself is a bit weird), and maybe, just maybe, you'll earn that blue badge (or at least a legion of loyal fans who appreciate your crocheted tea cozies).