After Twitter’s Super Follow, Meta-owned social media app Instagram is expecting to launch subscriptions on its platform soon. Instagram is planning to add a Instagram subscription feature through which creators can earn money on the social media platform. Users may have to pay to see Stories or access other content or media from creators on the app. This will allow also creators to earn money for their exclusive stories and live videos and users to support their favourite creators.
Now, Apple Store listing in the US and India shows an Instagram Subscription under the In-App Purchases section. This is hinting at the wider launch of the paid feature. Some social media users also confirmed on Twitter that the new in-app purchase option also appeared in the United Kingdom.
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Instagram Planning to Introduce Subscriptions for Exclusive Content
According to TechCrunch who first spotted it, Instagram Subscriptions is live with prices between $0.99 (roughly Rs. 73) and $4.99 (roughly Rs. 360) in the US. Whereas, it is live in App Store India as well, with a price plan of Rs. 89 per month. The new subscription details are displayed along with Instagram Badges. Previously, Instagram had only listed Instagram Badge as an in-app purchase.
So what do you get from this Instagram Subscription model? For this fee, subscribers will reportedly get access to exclusive stories and posts from creators. Paying followers will apparently also get a ‘member’ badge, which will appear in interactions between the subscribers and creators. Reports state that such payments will also “prioritize” such interactions, although it’s not quite clear how, as of now.
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On the other hand, rumours and reports suggest Instagram will allow creators to customize their subscription names and pricing. As of now, we can safely assume the price of Rs. 89 looks like an introductory price. However, we cannot be sure of what the future holds for the new feature. In addition, it is also not clear if the Instagram Subscriptions programme will also bypass Apple’s own payment instruments. Or allow creators to send potential subscribers a payment link via SMS or email – based on Facebook Pay.
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Instagram is not alone in competing for creator talent. In addition to a growing number of startups, crowdfunding platforms and competition from social rivals like TikTok, Snap, Pinterest and YouTube, Twitter in September also launched its own creator subscription platform called Super Follows.
Sushmita Choubey
Marketer to the core, a writer from the soul. Engineer and an MBA turned budding tech writer - dabbling her hands in all genres of writing from tech to fiction. If not writing, you will always find me reading anything and everything. Otherwise, you will find me learning new languages.