Meta has begun trialling a premium subscription plan called Instagram Plus in select markets. According to a TechCrunch report, the paid tier gives subscribers access to exclusive features, including the ability to view a Story without the poster knowing.
Subscribers can also see how many people have rewatched their own Stories, the company confirmed to TechCrunch.
Under the plan, subscribers will be able to create unlimited audience lists for their Stories, beyond the standard Close Friends list. This allows them to customise who sees each Story by grouping followers into different lists, making targeting more specific than Close Friends or the option to share with everyone.
Additionally, subscribers can extend their Stories for an extra 24 hours and choose to spotlight a Story up to once per week, increasing its visibility by bringing it to the front of the Stories tray for followers.
Don’t miss: Meta and YouTube lose key battle in social media addiction trial
Subscribers can also give an animated “Superlike” on others’ Stories and search their Story viewer list to quickly see if a specific person has viewed their Story, instead of having to scroll through the entire list.
While Meta has not issued an official announcement on Instagram Plus or the markets where it is testing the subscription, social media posts quoted by TechCrunch indicate that it is being trialled in Mexico, Japan and the Philippines.
Pricing reportedly varies by country, at MXN 39 per month in Mexico (SG$2.80), ¥319 per month in Japan (SG$2.57) and PHP 65 per month in the Philippines (SG$1.38).
The new paid subscription on Instagram is separate from Meta Verified, which is aimed at content creators and businesses and offers features such as a verified badge and impersonation protections for a monthly fee. Instagram Plus is instead designed for everyday users.
In 2023, Meta announced that it would expand Meta Verified to businesses after first launching it for creators. The company is initially testing the verification programme on Facebook and Instagram with merchants in select geographies, and plans to roll it out to businesses on WhatsApp at a later stage.
As with verification for creators, Meta Verified for businesses includes a badge, better reach and impersonation protection. The company is offering the same badge to businesses as the one offered to creators, so there is no differentiation. Meta has not specified whether impersonation protection for this tier is any different.
Earlier in March, Meta introduced a new programme aimed at accelerating creator growth on Facebook, as competition for creator attention intensifies across platforms.
Dubbed “Creator fast track”, the initiative offers selected creators increased reach on eligible Reels, alongside three months of guaranteed monthly payouts. The move is designed to attract established creators who are either new to Facebook or looking to rebuild their presence on the platform.
According to Meta, creators with at least 100,000 followers on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok or YouTube can earn US$1,000 per month under the programme. Those with more than one million followers on at least one platform can receive up to US$3,000 monthly.
Related articles:
Got 100k followers? Meta will pay you to post on Facebook
Meta to acquire AI social network Moltbook
Meta to use AI chats to personalise ads and content across platforms
