It appears that Instagram, the Meta-owned photo and video sharing service, is looking to follow in the footsteps of Twitter, as it is rumored to be reportedly working on adding paid verification to the platform (via TechCrunch).
The news was shared by the leaker, mobile developer, and reverse engineer, Alessandro Paluzzi, who found code snippets that had references to a string of text suggesting that Instagram is working on a “paid blue badge” and a new subscription product.
#Instagram is working on a subscription plan which includes the blue badge ?
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) February 2, 2023
Paluzzi shared with TechCrunch screenshots in the app’s code that included lines referencing “IG_NME_PAID_BLUE_BADGE_IDV” and “FB_NME_PAID_BLUE_BADGE_IDV.”
According to him, the term “IDV” could mean identity verification — which is also a known meaning for the acronym.
Additionally, the developer also found other references to a new type of subscription product, which was previously not there. The same references also appear in one of the latest builds of the Facebook app.
Currently, there are only a few small references in the code about paid verification and nothing more visible in the app itself.
?? At the moment there are only a few small references in the code about this, nothing visible so, until I post a screenshot that can confirm my assumption, consider it a mere rumor.
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) February 2, 2023
Instagram mostly confirms about testing of its upcoming new features to the platform, but this time the company chose not to comment on the findings of the paid verification feature.
Other than the strings of code and color of the paid verification badge, there is no other information about the new feature. Hence, we suggest you take this information with a pinch of salt until we have more information!
