When Elon Musk first announced that he’d allow people to basically buy a blue tick by paying a monthly fee, the concept was widely ridiculed. Many criticized it because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up removing a lot of the exclusivity and trust that the blue tick was supposed to provide.
However, it turns out that Instagram might end up legitimizing Musk’s move. The Meta owned social media platform could potentially roll out a system whereby users can pay for a verification mark, and that could make Musk’s attempts seem like a better idea than might have been the case otherwise.
This information is being gleaned from references that were spotted in Instagram’s source code. The references very specifically mention a paid blue badge of some sort, which would make it strikingly similar to what Elon Musk has been experimenting with. Facebook’s app also contains similar references which seems to suggest that a paid verification system could get rolled out to multiple Meta properties and potentially even WhatsApp.
Discovered by a developer by the name of Alessandro Paluzzi, this feature has not yet been confirmed by Instagram as of right now. In spite of the fact that this is the case, the existence of this code definitely indicates that Instagram is toying with the idea if nothing else.
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Paluzzi is known for spotting upcoming Instagram features, and he is almost always correct. That does not automatically mean that Instagram will roll the subscription model out, but all signs are certainly pointing in that direction.
If Instagram follows through with this plan, it will make Musk’s move a wider trend in the industry. Not only will it vindicate Musk’s own strategy, it will change the way verification works on social media platforms in the long run. TikTok might end up following suit as well, as would YouTube which would make for some marked changes in the content creation industries that could have a wider impact as well.
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However, it turns out that Instagram might end up legitimizing Musk’s move. The Meta owned social media platform could potentially roll out a system whereby users can pay for a verification mark, and that could make Musk’s attempts seem like a better idea than might have been the case otherwise.
This information is being gleaned from references that were spotted in Instagram’s source code. The references very specifically mention a paid blue badge of some sort, which would make it strikingly similar to what Elon Musk has been experimenting with. Facebook’s app also contains similar references which seems to suggest that a paid verification system could get rolled out to multiple Meta properties and potentially even WhatsApp.
Discovered by a developer by the name of Alessandro Paluzzi, this feature has not yet been confirmed by Instagram as of right now. In spite of the fact that this is the case, the existence of this code definitely indicates that Instagram is toying with the idea if nothing else.
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Paluzzi is known for spotting upcoming Instagram features, and he is almost always correct. That does not automatically mean that Instagram will roll the subscription model out, but all signs are certainly pointing in that direction.
If Instagram follows through with this plan, it will make Musk’s move a wider trend in the industry. Not only will it vindicate Musk’s own strategy, it will change the way verification works on social media platforms in the long run. TikTok might end up following suit as well, as would YouTube which would make for some marked changes in the content creation industries that could have a wider impact as well.
Read next: Here Are the Most Visited Websites in the World
