Instagram is launching a paid Plus subscription
Instagram has announced the launch of a new paid subscription service called "Plus," which gives users access to advanced content and profile management features. The service is now available worldwide and costs $3.99 per month. Meta is positioning the new plan as a step toward a more personalized platform experience.
Meta has officially introduced a new monetization model for regular Instagram users with the launch of the “Plus” paid subscription, which, for a monthly fee of $3.99, provides access to advanced profile management tools, audience analytics, and new content management features, effectively changing the familiar logic of using one of the world’s most popular social networks.
The main focus of the new plan is on the Stories format, which remains a key element for capturing attention, as this is where users have received the most updates: Stories for Plus subscribers now remain active for 48 hours instead of the standard 24 hours, the Story Spotlight feature has been introduced to boost content visibility, and a tool for creating multiple separate audience lists has been added to allow for more precise privacy and communication settings.
In addition, subscribers gain access to new metrics, including statistics on Story re-views, which allows for better analysis of audience engagement, as well as advanced search capabilities among viewers and a preview feature for posts before they go live, providing more control over how content appears in the feed.
As part of the paid subscription, Meta has also added new profile customization features, including the ability to change the app icon on a smartphone, use exclusive fonts in the bio, and pin posts — now up to six posts or Reels instead of three, allowing users to create a more flexible visual structure for their page.
Separately, the company has introduced the “Super Hearts” feature—animated reactions for Stories designed to make interactions between users more emotional and noticeable in private messages.
Meta emphasizes that the launch of “Instagram Plus” is just the first stage of a larger service update, as they plan to expand the subscription features over the coming months by adding new tools and additional premium options for users.
The American tech company Apple has removed the Russian messenger Max from its App Store. The app is now unavailable for download by users of Apple devices. The reasons for this decision have not been officially disclosed. Previously, the Max messenger was positioned as one of Russia’s digital services for messaging and communication between users.
Apple is preparing smart glasses for a market launch by 2027 — Bloomberg.
As a reminder, a YouTuber was arrested in South Korea for fake AI audio.
Google’s AI Overview feature generates millions of incorrect answers every hour—NYT.
As a reminder, Japan is replacing people with robots on a massive scale due to the demographic crisis.
Also, Gemini will introduce mental health monitoring following lawsuits.
