iWorld
Your stories could soon last longer as Instagram unveils Plus subscription
Optional paid tier adds exclusive features aimed at deeper connections, greater insights and more personalisation
CALIFORNIA: Instagram is putting a price on exclusivity. The Meta-owned social-media platform has unveiled Instagram Plus, a new subscription service packed with premium features designed to help users share more selectively, understand their audiences better and personalise the app to their tastes.
The service, which is rolling out globally from today, leaves the core Instagram experience untouched and free. Instead, it offers an optional upgrade for users seeking more control, deeper insights and additional ways to stand out.
At the heart of Instagram Plus is a clutch of features aimed at bringing users closer to the people who matter most. Story Spotlight gives stories priority among friends, while Super Hearts lets users send animated reactions that burst across the screen. Subscribers can create unlimited story audience lists, allowing them to tailor posts to different groups, and can extend stories to 48 hours to give followers more time to view them.
Instagram is also adding tools designed to reduce social pressure while offering richer analytics. Story Preview allows users to peek at stories without feeling compelled to react. Story Rewatch Insights reveals how many times a story has been replayed, while Search Viewer List lets users quickly check whether a particular person has viewed a story.
Customisation forms the third pillar of the subscription. Instagram Plus users can choose from a range of app icons designed by Instagram and creators, alter the font of their profile bio, pin as many as six posts to their profile and publish posts directly to their profile or highlights without pushing them into friends’ feeds.
Instagram said more features would be added to the service in the coming months.
With Instagram Plus, the platform is betting that some users are willing to pay for a more tailored, more private and more expressive experience. And with the subscription now going global, Instagram’s next growth engine may come not from attracting more users, but from persuading existing ones to upgrade.
