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Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, made an important announcement on Monday regarding new features being tested on the popular social media platform. In a post to his official channel, Mosseri revealed that Instagram is trialing an optional setting that would allow users to customize their home feed experience.
Specifically, the test option being introduced provides the ability to only view posts from subscribers of Meta's paid user verification service, called Meta Verified. This paid subscription program, launched earlier in the year, aims to provide valuable benefits for professional accounts, creators, and brands that want to distinguish themselves on Facebook and Instagram.
Features of Meta Verified include a distinctive blue checkmark badge for verified accounts, alongside priority customer support and protections against impersonation. The program offers verified users' new ways to authentically engage with their audiences and build their online presence.
For the in-app test now underway, Mosseri explained that the new viewing preference would be prominently displayed alongside the standard Following and Favorites filters that currently organize a user's home feed. By simply tapping the Instagram logo at the top of the screen, participants can easily toggle between seeing all posts or just those from Meta Verified subscribers.
While initial details were limited, Mosseri acknowledged this optional setting could significantly boost the visibility and reach of paid subscribers if embraced by a wide percentage of active Instagram users. However, he did not provide specifics on the scope of the experiment or the criteria to access the specialized feed filtering option.
Mosseri invited early feedback from the Instagram community on whether a preference for verified accounts only would offer meaningful value. If positively received, it's possible the feature could see broader release. For now, the company will analyze engagement metrics and user behaviors as they refine ways to better support professional users and the Meta Verified program across Facebook and Instagram through innovative product updates.