Meta plans to test a new subscription that gives people access to exclusive features in IT apps, the company told TechCrunch on Monday. The tech giant said the new subscription will further boost productivity and creativity, along with expanded AI capabilities.
In the coming months, Meta said it will offer a premium experience on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, while the core experience will remain free, giving users access to special features and more control over how they share and connect. Meta doesn’t appear to be locked into one strategy, and says it plans to test different subscription features and bundles, with each app subscription having its own unique set of features.
Meta also shared that it plans to expand its recently acquired $2 billion AI agent, Manus, as part of its subscription plan.
Meta takes a two-pronged approach to Manus. The company plans to integrate Manus into its Meta products while continuing to sell standalone subscriptions to businesses. According to screenshots shared by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, Meta has already been spotted working on adding shortcuts to Manus AI on Instagram, and is often spotted unreleased features in development.
Additionally, Meta plans to test subscription AI features such as Vibes video generation. Vibes is Meta’s AI-powered short video experience built into the Meta AI app that lets you create and remix AI-generated videos. Vibes has been free since its launch last year, but Meta now plans to offer freemium access to Vibes’ video creation, with a subscription that unlocks additional video creation opportunities each month.
It’s unclear what the paid features for WhatsApp and Facebook will be, but Paluzzi said Instagram’s new subscription will allow users to create unlimited viewer lists, add the ability to see a list of followers who don’t follow you back, and the option to show stories without the author knowing you’ve seen them.
Please note that your new subscription will be separate from Meta Verified. The tech giant says it will use what it learns from Meta Verified to evolve its subscription business and offer more services that it thinks everyday users, creators, and businesses want.
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Meta Verified is aimed at content creators and businesses with verified badges, 24/7 direct support, impersonation protection, search optimization, exclusive stickers, and more. While these features are not aimed at everyday users or non-creators, the new subscriptions will be designed for a broader audience.
With the launch of additional subscriptions, Meta can generate more revenue. However, many users may be deterred by subscription fatigue. With so many paid services competing for your monthly spend, Meta needs to offer a compelling product to get users to sign up for yet another subscription.
Snap is proving there is a market for social media subscriptions, as its Snapchat+ service continues to be a revenue driver. Snapchat+, which offers exclusive features starting at $3.99 per month, has more than 16 million subscribers, more than doubling since early 2024.
Meta says it plans to listen to its community of users and gather feedback as it begins rolling out subscriptions in the coming months.
