Opting Out of Meta's Blue Tick Subscription: A Nigerian Freelancer's Perspective - Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman

In today’s digital age, online identity and trustworthiness play a significant role in personal and professional endeavors. When Meta, the parent company of Facebook, introduced the Blue Tick Subscription, I was initially intrigued by the idea. However, after careful consideration, I chose to opt out of this premium service for a variety of reasons.

As a Nigerian freelancer, I have faced the uphill battle of combating stereotypes that paint Nigerians as untrustworthy in online transactions. The Blue Tick, with its promise of identity verification, seemed like a potential solution to this problem. After all, having a verified identity could help dispel doubts and build trust with clients and collaborators, ultimately working to dismantle these stereotypes. This was one of the primary reasons why I subscribed in the first place.

Another motivation for subscribing was my active participation in various Facebook groups related to my niche. These groups often serve as a goldmine for potential gigs and opportunities. However, the challenge lies in reaching out to strangers on Facebook. When you message someone who is not your friend, your message typically ends up in the recipient’s message request box, which often goes unnoticed or is only checked when the opportunity has already expired. The Blue Tick Subscription offered the tantalizing prospect of bypassing this barrier by giving my messages more visibility and credibility.

Comparing this to platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn, where premium subscriptions come with tangible privileges such as enhanced visibility to potential clients and advanced search options, the value proposition of the Meta Blue Tick for Facebook began to pale in comparison. While Facebook’s offering aimed to protect users from impersonation, it lacked the substantial benefits that other platforms provided to their premium subscribers. Unless one is a public figure who frequently faces impersonation attempts, the Blue Tick Subscription for Facebook appeared to make little sense for the average user.

In conclusion, I decided to opt out of Meta’s Blue Tick Subscription because it didn’t offer substantial privileges that justified its cost. While identity verification and protection from impersonation are valuable, Meta should consider providing more compelling offers and privileges to subscribers. In a world where online identity and trustworthiness are crucial, Meta has an opportunity to enhance the user experience by offering tangible benefits that go beyond mere protection. This would not only attract more subscribers but also make the platform more inclusive and user-friendly for individuals from all walks of life.