Meta is planning to test premium subscriptions for its Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp services, the firm has told TechCrunch.
Of course, the move isn’t simply to line their coffers, but instead, the company claims the new subscriptions will unlock more productivity and creativity, along with expanded AI capabilities.
Each app will have its own distinct set of premium features, that will give users “more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free.” The company hasn’t settled on what form the new features will take, and is reportedly planning to experiment with various bundles.
We could see Instagram offer unlimited audience lists to premium subscribers and have the ability to see which users don’t follow them back, as well as view Stories anonymously. WhatsApp and Facebook are likely to receive similar features.
Meta recently acquired Ai agent Manus in a reported $2 billion deal, and it plans to integrate it into its subscription plans. Manus will continue to be available to businesses on a separate basis.
While some observers worry about subscription fatigue among users, there is evidence that users are willing to pay for compelling features. Case in point: Snap’s Snapchat+ offering has proven to be a nice revenue source for the company. Snapchat+, which starts at $3.99 per month for exclusive features, now has more than 16 million subscribers.
