Instagram is preparing to introduce in-app subscriptions that will allow users to pay for exclusive content from their favorite creators. This will allow the platform to move away from conventional advertising, as was recently reported in the App Store.
A few months ago, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said in an interview with The Information that the platform was exploring the idea of subscriptions, explaining that there are “different ways to enable a financial relationship between a fan and a creator.”
Being able to subscribe to differentiated, unique or exclusive content makes you feel more involved as a fan than seeing an ad.
Now Instagram appears to be preparing to turn its ambitions into reality. As TechCrunch reported, Instagram’s App Store recently introduced new in-app subscriptions, first discovered by Sensor Tower.
Instagram Monetization: Special Badge and More
The new in-app purchases are listed as “Instagram subscriptions” for $0.99 and $4.99. Previously, Instagram only listed Instagram Badge as an in-app purchase. In practice, the new subscription would allow users to pay their favorite creators for exclusive content that non-paying users cannot see. According to screenshots taken by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi divided , a subscription includes a "Member Badge," which gives subscribers a "special badge" next to their username, and "exclusive content." Subscriptions are just one of the many features Instagram has in the pipeline to expand monetization opportunities for creators on the platform. As Paluzzi also revealed, Instagram is working on "Exclusive Stories," which, as the name suggests, will give paying followers access to exclusive stories. (Photo by Unsplash / Brett Jordan)
