In a move to expand beyond advertising revenue, Meta is reportedly testing a new premium subscription model for Instagram called Instagram Plus. The feature is currently being trialled in select countries, according to a report by a media publication.
This development comes 2 months after Meta confirmed plans to explore subscription-based services across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Unlike existing offerings, Instagram Plus is aimed at everyday users rather than creators or businesses.
The subscription introduces several enhancements, especially for Stories. Users can view Stories anonymously, check how many people rewatched their posts, and create unlimited audience lists beyond the Close Friends feature. It also allows extending Story visibility up to 48 hours.
Additional features include the ability to highlight 1 Story per week at the top of followers’ feeds and send animated “Superlikes.” Users can also search their Story viewer list to quickly find specific viewers.
The service is currently being tested in Mexico, Japan, and Philippines. Pricing varies across regions. It is set at MX$39/month (around $2.20 USD) in Mexico, ¥319/month (around $2 USD) in Japan, and PHP 65/month (around $1.07 USD) in the Philippines. There is a possibility that testing is ongoing in other markets as well.
Instagram Plus is separate from Meta Verified, which focuses on creators and businesses with features like verification badges and impersonation protection. Instead, this new offering focuses on giving users more control, privacy, and personalisation.
The test highlights Meta’s continued push to diversify its business model while enhancing user experience through premium features.
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