Meta-owned Instagram is exploring a new feature that could reshape the platform's user experience. This feature, inspired by Elon Musk's X platform, will create a dedicated feed exclusively for paid verified users. Users have been aware of Meta's intention to introduce a subscription service that allows individuals on Facebook and Instagram to pay for verified accounts.
Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, sees this development as a means of providing users with additional control and offering businesses and content creators a new way to gain visibility. The feature, known as "Meta Verified," will be accessible under the "Following" and "Favorites" options when users tap on the Instagram logo at the top of the app.
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The Meta Verified program is priced at $11.99 on the web or $14.99 through the app, offering users an opportunity to secure a more prominent position in the Instagram feed. Mosseri has encouraged users to express their interest in using this exclusive feed for verified accounts.
Recent reports also suggest that Meta is considering a subscription model for an ad-free experience on Instagram and Facebook in Europe. European users will have the choice to pay the fee or continue seeing personalised ads.
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For a combination of both Instagram and Facebook, users can access the service for $17 per month, according to The Wall Street Journal. Subscribers will enjoy an ad-free experience, while Meta will continue to provide free versions of the apps with ads in the European Union.
Meta's move to introduce these new subscription and verification features signals the company's strategy to diversify its revenue sources and cater to different user preferences.
