META plans to test exclusive features that will be incorporated in paid versions of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, according to TechCrunch. The article notes these plans should not be confused with the ad-free subscription options Meta introduced for Facebook and Instagram in the EU, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland in late 2023 to comply with GDPR and the Digital Markets Act.
From November 2023, users in those regions could either continue for free with personalised ads or pay a monthly fee for an ad-free experience, and UK users were given the same choice this year, albeit with some reluctance. The newly announced premium subscriptions are described as not being about ads and are separate from Meta Verified, which starts at around $15 a month.
Instead, the subscriptions are expected to focus on additional features such as more control over how users share and connect, and potentially tools like expanded AI capabilities and viewing stories without the poster knowing it. Meta has said these features will concentrate on productivity, creativity, and expanded AI.