KUALA LUMPUR – Tech giant Meta is reportedly preparing to launch a new premium subscription tier for its major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This upcoming plan aims to provide users with exclusive productivity and creativity tools powered by artificial intelligence.
Building on the success of its current “Meta Verified” program—which offers the blue verification badge and direct customer support—this new initiative focuses on advanced functional features rather than just account authentication.
Unlocking Advanced AI Tools
A key highlight of the reported subscription is the integration of Manus, an AI-driven service recently acquired by Meta. The inclusion of Manus is expected to enhance user experience by offering sophisticated AI capabilities directly within the social media ecosystem.
New Privacy and Social Features
Leaks regarding the new subscription model suggest that several highly requested features will be exclusive to paying members. On Instagram, these features reportedly include:
- Stealth Story Viewing: The ability to view Instagram Stories without notifying the content creator or appearing in the “viewed by” list.
- Follower Insights: A tool that allows users to easily see a list of accounts that do not follow them back.
- Unlimited Audience Lists: Greater flexibility for users to manage how they share content with specific groups.
Industry Trends in Monetization
Meta’s move aligns with a broader industry shift toward paid services for enhanced features. Competitors like Snapchat already offer exclusive perks through Snapchat+, while various tech firms have started charging for high-end AI functionalities.
As of now, Meta has not officially disclosed the pricing structure or the global release date for these features. The development was first highlighted by mobile researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, who noted that Instagram is actively working on these perks to diversify its revenue streams.
