People using Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp may soon need to decide whether they want to pay extra for additional features beyond the free versions they’ve been using.
Meta confirmed that it’s planning to roll out and test premium subscription tiers for its three most popular services, which, according to the company, would unlock «special features and more control over how they share and connect,» according to a TechCrunch report detailing the changes.
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A representative for Meta did not elaborate on subscription plans, but confirmed to CNET that TechCrunch’s story is accurate.
According to the report, this would differ from the Meta Verified badge offering aimed at businesses and internet content creators. Meta Verified starts at $15 and includes enhanced support options and protections against impersonation.
Instead, the new subscriptions that Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp users can expect will offer a broader Premium experience, but it’s unclear so far which specific features will be included. According to TechCrunch, AI will be a part of that mix with potential paywalls or extra access to AI image generators or AI agents as part of its plans. What bundles and subscriptions are offered could change based on customer feedback, Meta told TechCrunch.
Subscriptions for once-free social media services are now common, with LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter) and Snapchat all giving people the option to pay more for extra features.
