What you need to know
- Meta product manager Naomi Gleit announced the company’s range of “Plus” subscription plans for Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook.
- These plans will give users more ways to “express and connect” for $3.99 per month (Facebook, Insta) and $2.99 per month for WhatsApp.
- The company then previewed “Meta One,” a subscription trial that includes four plans, two of which will arrive to be tested by Meta AI users.
Meta is definitely making some moves this month, announcing a number of new subscription plans for its apps.
Naomi Gleit, product manager at Meta, announced on Instagram that the company is rolling out subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp (via TechCrunch). Gleit pokes fun at these subscriptions by asking, “What if subscriptions could get you more out of your apps?” What is being implemented globally are the Instagram Plus, WhatsApp Plus and Facebook Plus plans.
The publication notes that these plans cost $3.99 per month (Facebook, Instagram) and $2.99 per month for WhatsApp. Gleit adds that these plans offer users “richer ways” to “express and connect” with others on those platforms. Early looks on Instagram showed vibrant and expressive animations for liking Stories, which TechCrunch says is called “Super Heart.” What’s more, their report says that Instagram Plus subscribers can “star a story once a week for extra views, extend a story beyond 24 hours, preview a story without appearing as a viewer,” and more.
Meta’s announcement continued with a preview of what’s to come: a trial for the “Meta One” subscription plan. It has been reported that this plan and the plans for Meta applications will not affect “Verified goal“, which aims to help creators maintain their identities on their services. Meta One will reportedly encompass “Meta AI creators, businesses, and power users.”
Is this where we are going?
What’s more, it looks like the company has a whole smorgasbord of plans under Meta One. TechCrunch claims that Meta AI users will try “Meta One Plus” ($7.99/month) and “Meta One Premium” ($19.99/month). The latter would offer video/image generation for Meta AI, as well as a “thinking mode”, which you could see The deep thinking of Gemini for a close comparison. Reports add that Meta AI will not disappear from casual users.
There are two more Meta One tests planned, but it has been said that they will reach foreign markets. The post claims that the company is preparing to introduce Meta One Essential for $14.99 per month and Meta One Advanced for $49.99 per month. This advanced plan will mirror Essential’s offerings (which look similar to Meta Verified), but will also have more Facebook/Instagram search presence, a bold “Follow” button on your profile, and more.
This is an interesting move by Meta, considering that just laid off 8,000 employees last week. There were already murmurs that the employees were dissatisfied in Meta following certain decisions based on AI. With 8,000 members missing, it appears that Meta will continue to focus heavily on AI and its advancements. The company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, said he doesn’t “expect any more layoffs this year,” but people aren’t holding their breath. goal has had a brutal story of massive layoffs, impacting thousands and thousands.
Android Central’s opinion
I took a look at the comments on Instagram (I know, I know) and the reactions seem divided. Some people, like content creators, like what Meta talked about. Others don’t feel the same. It sounds a little strange to think about purchasing a subscription for certain features or whatever, but it’s not completely out of the question. I guess the lower cost of “Plus” in Meta apps is the highlight. As more surfaces and users get their hands on it, we’ll see if it’s really worth it. But it will still only attract people who would use it.
