Messy breakup? Instagram might make it a lot harder to move on.
Instagram is testing a new subscription that gives paying users access to several features, including the ability to view another user’s Story in stealth mode.
Other perks include creating audience lists beyond “Close Friends” and extending a Story by an additional 24 hours. Instagram Stories are photos and videos that expire after 24 hours. Currently, the creator can see who views them.
“Our hope from these tests is to understand what’s most valuable to people in a premium feature set,” an Instagram spokesperson said in a statement to Bloomberg. The company did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
TechCrunch first reported the test and said that Instagram is offering the subscriptions in Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines for about $1 to $2 a month.
In the last few years, Meta has been experimenting with various paid products as it seeks to diversify its revenue beyond its main advertising business.
In 2023, it launched Meta Verified, a subscription service for creators and business accounts that helps protect brands from impersonation and build credibility. Verified has four tiers, the most expensive of which costs $500 a month.
Other subscription products include an ad-free subscription for European Union users and a monthly subscription that lets fans get exclusive content from their favourite creators.
Snapchat, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn have introduced premium tiers that unlock some features for paid users, in an effort to supplement ad dollars and make revenue more predictable.
