Meta starts testing the initial registration on Instagram

Meta has begun testing its first subscription on Instagram in several countries, the company confirmed to TechCrunch on Monday. The subscription, which is called Instagram Plus, opens up access to special features. The move comes after two months Meta told TechCrunch that it plans to test new subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

Some of the most important features of Instagram are the ability to view a Story without the thumbnail showing that you’ve seen it and the ability to see how many people have re-viewed your Story, Meta told TechCrunch in an email.

Subscribers will also be able to create an unlimited audience list for Stories, beyond the Close Friends list. This means users can change who sees each Story by grouping followers into different groups instead of sharing with everyone or just one group.

Additionally, subscribers can extend their Story for an additional 24 hours and choose to highlight a Story up to once per week, increasing its visibility by bringing it to the front of the Story tray for followers.

Subscribers can also “Superlike” animations on other Stories and search the list of Story viewers to quickly see if someone has viewed their Story, instead of just checking the entire list.

Although Meta has not yet shared which countries are testing the premium subscription, media reports indicate that it is being tested Mexico, Japanand Philippines.

Prices vary by country, but according to photos shared by users, it costs MX$39 (about $2.20 USD) per month in Mexico, ¥319 per month (about $2 USD) in Japan, and PHP 65 per month (about $1.07 USD) in the Philippines.

It is possible that Meta is trying to register in other countries as well.

It is important to note that paid subscriptions on Instagram are different Verified Metawhich is aimed at developers and businesses and offers features such as a verified badge and viewing security as a monthly fee. Instagram Plus is designed for everyday users.

Although the introduction of additional subscriptions will allow Meta to generate more revenue, many users may be deterred by subscription fatigue. Some previous users based on social media to express their displeasure with subscription offers.

Of course, Snapchat and X have proven that there is a subscription market for social media. Snap recently announced that Snapchat+, which starts at $3.99 per month for special features, has exceeded 25 million subscribers.

Meta says it will continue to test Instagram premium subscriptions before releasing it again.