Meta is testing new subscriptions for its most popular platforms with exclusive features and AI tools.
Meta aims to add extra features and advanced AI capabilities to Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp through new premium subscriptions, while keeping the basic experience free.
Premium experience for social apps
Meta confirms to TechCrunch that it will test paid subscriptions on its main platforms. This will give users access to extra productivity and creativity tools, more control over interactions and new ways to share content. Each platform will have its own set of features, with Meta experimenting with different bundles and formulas. The existing free versions will remain available.
Manus AI central to strategy
A key part of the plans is Manus, the AI agent that Meta recently acquired for a reported two billion dollars. Meta wants to integrate Manus into its apps, but will also continue to offer separate business subscriptions. Signals have already emerged that Instagram will get a shortcut to Manus, so other platforms can easily follow.
Meta also wants users to pay for specific AI functions. One example is Vibes, the AI tool for generating and editing short videos. That service will remain free for the most part, but paying users will get more video capabilities per month.
Different from Meta Verified
With the Instagram subscription, users would be able to create unlimited audience lists, gain insight into followers who do not follow back, and have the option to view Stories anonymously. What exactly WhatsApp and Facebook will offer is not yet known.
The new subscriptions are separate from Meta Verified. Meta wants to use the experiences from that program to further develop its broader subscription strategy.