Instagram is trying out a new feature, a dedicated feed that will exclusively showcase posts from Meta-verified and legacy-verified users. This move is aimed at enhancing the user experience and supporting businesses and creators in gaining more visibility.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, revealed this development. Users will find a new toggle option under the “Following” and “Favorites” sections, accessible by clicking on the Instagram logo within the app.
Mosseri shared his thoughts on this in his Instagram broadcast channel, stating, “We’re testing a way for people to explore their Instagram feed and reels by toggling to only Meta Verified accounts. We’re exploring this as a new control for people and as a way for businesses and creators to get discovered.”
The official announcement follows an earlier statement made by Instagram denying any testing of such a feature. This denial came after reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi discovered code in both the iOS and Android Instagram apps that hinted at a new feed filter for Meta Verified subscribers.
Instagram likely views this new feed as a means to boost Meta Verified subscriptions and pique interest among users. This subscription, priced at $11.99 per month for web users and $14.99 per month for mobile users, provides several benefits, including a blue checkmark, improved customer support, greater visibility and reach in search and comments, exclusive stickers, and more.
Meta’s approach with the Verified-only feed and the Meta Verified subscription draws parallels to Elon Musk’s strategies. After Musk acquired Twitter (now known as X) last year, the social network introduced paid verification for $8 per month through its revamped X Premium subscription service. This subscription offers users access to various features, including a Verified tab in Notifications, an edit button, and support for longer posts.
In essence, Instagram’s move to offer a dedicated feed for Meta Verified users aims to boost user engagement, promote subscriptions, and provide enhanced visibility for creators and businesses.