Instagram is planning to add a subscriptions feature through which creators can earn money on the social media platform.
A new report from TechCrunch explains that the Meta-owned social media platform recently added new in-app purchase options to its app in the US. Alongside the previously released Instagram Badge payment options are new Instagram Subscription tiers, costing between $0.99 and $4.99 USD.
Instagram has previously suggested that it will investigate the possibility of offering exclusive content that only people who subscribe to a creator would be able to see — including exclusive Stories. These new in-app subscriptions appear to be the next step in making that a reality.
#Instagram keeps working on exclusive stories for fan clubs 👀
ℹ️ Even exclusive stories can be saved to a Highlight so fans always have something to see when they join. pic.twitter.com/HUBAUCS4fK
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) June 28, 2021
As TechCrunch also notes, Instagram does sometimes test these kinds of creator-focused features with a small number of users initially, rather than making them available to everyone at the same time. That could mean that we see some people gain access to this new subscription model sooner rather than later, although we haven’t heard of anyone making use of subscriptions as yet.
Instagram isn’t alone in focusing on new payment models. Back in September Twitter, arguably Instagram’s biggest rival, launched Super Follows — a similar subscription program that enables creators to monetize through exclusive content.
