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Tag: Meta

  • Meta Introduces Paid Verification Subscription for Instagram and Facebook Accounts

    Meta Introduces Paid Verification Subscription for Instagram and Facebook Accounts

    Can we blame Elon? Because Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is introducing a new subscription service called “Meta Verified” which offers users a blue verification badge, increased visibility, prioritized customer support and more. The feature is rolling out in Australia and New Zealand this week, costing $11.99 per month on web and $14.99 per month on mobile.

    To sign up, users must meet minimum activity requirements, be at least 18 years old, and submit a government ID that matches the name and photo on their Facebook or Instagram accounts. While the service has been compared to Elon Musk‘s $8 per month Twitter Blue, Meta says it won’t make any changes to accounts that have been verified using the company’s previous requirements, such as notability and authenticity.

    Users who sign up will also receive exclusive stickers for Stories and Reels and 100 free stars per month, the digital currency used to tip creators on Facebook. However, businesses cannot apply for a Meta Verified badge, and users cannot change their profile name, username, birthday or profile photo without going through the verification process again.

  • Yahoo Braces for Major Shake-Up as Layoffs Loom

    Yahoo Braces for Major Shake-Up as Layoffs Loom

    In a stunning announcement that sent shockwaves through the tech industry, Yahoo revealed plans to lay off more than 20% of its total workforce as part of a major overhaul of its ad tech division. With nearly 50% of ad tech employees set to lose their jobs by the end of the year, including nearly 1,000 this week, the cuts are expected to impact a significant portion of the company’s workforce.

    According to reports, Yahoo’s new focus will be on its flagship ad business, known as the demand-side platform (DSP), as it aims to streamline operations and boost growth. The move comes as private equity firm Apollo Global Management acquired 90% of Yahoo from Verizon for $5 billion in September 2021.

    Given the new focus of the new Yahoo Advertising group, we will reduce the workforce of the former Yahoo for Business division by nearly 50% by the end of 2023,” a Yahoo spokesperson told CNBC on Thursday. “The Yahoo for Business segment’s strategy struggled to live up to our high standards across the entire stack.”

    Yahoo joins the growing list of tech giants announcing significant layoffs in 2023. In January, Alphabet laid off 12,000 workers, or about 12% of its workforce, and in November, Facebook‘s parent company Meta cut 11,000 jobs. As the tech industry continues to evolve and adapt, it remains to be seen what impact these workforce reductions will have on the companies and their employees.