<strong>Facebook Still Opens for Users to Create Account Free of Charge</strong>

After Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced that anyone could request for the Blue Tick for less than $15 recently, a claim stating that the users will be required to pay nearly $12 a month to set up a Facebook account in the future. This claim has been shared with mixed reactions from social media users. However, Fact Crescendo Cambodia’s fact-finding found that the above claim is misleading.

Social Media

On February 20, 2023, a Facebook user recently posted a post claiming that in the future, to set up a Facebook account, users will have to pay about $11.99 per month. The remarks came after an announcement posted on Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page last Sunday.

This claim has been shared many times, received mixed comments and reactions from Khmer-speaking Facebook users.

The following is a screenshot captured from the Facebook user’s post above that was posted in Khmer or translated in English as “In the near future, if you want to create a Facebook account, you must pay $ 11.99 per month for one account”.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

Fact Check

Fact Crescendo Cambodia has started reviewing the above claims by verifying with the announcement of Mark Zuckerberg that led us to find out the following facts.

As Mark Zuckerberg is the founder, chairman and CEO of Meta, which he originally founded as Facebook in 2004, he is also responsible for setting the overall direction and product strategy for the company.

According to his announcement recently on his official Facebook page, the founder of this social media site has confirmed that the company will launch the purchase of getting Meta Verified or Blue Tick for a Facebook account for less than $15.

Zuckerberg also confirmed that the new program will be launched in Australia and New Zealand with a purchase price of $11.99 for the website and $14.99 for iOS. However, Zuckerberg did not confirm that the company would charge a fee for setting up a Facebook account for social media users.

The following is an excerpt from Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

Enabling Meta Verified requests on this user’s account is also posted on CNBC website on February 19, 2023, in English. The launch of Meta’s new service or function has also been reported in the media as well recently.

The following is a CNBC’s article that did not confirm that setting up or creating a Facebook account would cost money.

CNBC Link | Archived Link

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You may find the details of this fact-check in Khmer language here as well.

Conclusion

Fact Crescendo Cambodia has found that the above-mentioned claims are false. Meta has announced that there is a subscription service called “Meta Verified” for Facebook & Instagram users in Australia and New Zealand, starting at $11.99 per month for the website and $14.99 for iOS. There has been no official announcement that setting up a Facebook account will cost money in the future.