Meta has introduced Instagram Plus, targeting users who want special features such as viewing stories anonymously, a post boosting system, and unlimited friend group creation.
Meta announced a limited test of a premium subscription service called Instagram Plus in select countries. This service differs from Meta Verified, which focuses on creators and businesses.
A notable feature of Instagram Plus is the ability to view other users' Instagram Stories without them knowing. Premium subscribers can also see how many times their own Stories have been viewed repeatedly and can extend Story visibility by an additional 24 hours.
Other features include animated Superlikes, unlimited creation of follower groups to restrict who can see Stories, and Spotlight, which boosts the user’s Story to the top of the notification feed so more friends can see it.
Currently, Instagram Plus is being tested in Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines, with pricing adjusted to local living costs: about 75 baht per month in Mexico, 70 baht in Japan, and 35 baht in the Philippines.
Social media users have begun expressing online fatigue over the growing number of app subscription fees. Nevertheless, Meta hopes that offering more special features and interactive options will help the company succeed beyond its main advertising revenue model.