Meta asks users to pay for WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook

Meta has introduced premium subscription plans for WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, requiring users to pay monthly fees for enhanced features. The new service costs $3.99 per month for Facebook and Instagram, and $2.99 for WhatsApp, with subscriptions billed separately. These premium accounts offer additional personalization options and insights, such as tracking how many times an Instagram story has been rewatched, extending story visibility to 24 hours, and allowing users to highlight a story once per week. WhatsApp subscribers gain access to extra stickers and custom ringtone options. The rollout follows a testing phase and marks Meta’s first step toward expanding its monetization strategy beyond advertising revenue. The company has indicated that more features will be added over time, including tools aimed at professional users like businesses and content creators. Future offerings are expected to include advanced AI capabilities, which will enable longer interactions with Meta’s AI systems and come at higher price points than the current premium tiers. This move complements Meta’s existing Meta Verified subscription, which provides a blue verification checkmark and enhanced security protections against impersonation and hacking. Meta Verified will continue to operate independently from the new premium plans. The introduction of these paid tiers reflects Meta’s broader effort to diversify its revenue streams amid increasing competition and regulatory scrutiny in the social media landscape.