Premium Subscriptions Coming to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp

[jlc1978]

Yes, WhatsApp has begun its ********ation, and for the first time since its acquisition by Meta, there is a chance that users will finally move to an alternative!

The problem is its ubiquitousness, espcially utside of the US. When I had to reach my internet provider, rather than an expensive international call I simply used WhatsApp. I looked up their number on WA, called and connected. Getting people to move off of it will be challenging because so many are on it. The key will be the ability to interconnect with WA while building out a network of users. Of course, how do you pay for that?

People want free and full featured, so someone else pays the bills.

 

[jlc1978]

Probably before the end of the decade Apple hardware with the word “Pro” attached to it will only be available through subscription

We're already there with iPhones and Apple's iPhone upgrade program. While technically a purchase, if you use I it acts like a lease or subscription.

 

[Omega Mac]

Already here for Apple. If the plan contains the word “Creator” or “Pro” it will require a subscription.

Probably before the end of the decade Apple hardware with the word “Pro” attached to it will only be available through subscription.

Or at the very least the “Pro” features of Apple Silicon will be “disabled” by default at the kernel level of MacOS and your subscription will allow you to download the kernel level code to the existing MacOS version that upon reboot will now unlock those “Pro” features already there in the hardware. This already is happening with Intel’s Xeon server CPUs.

The future ladies and gentlemen - "macOS PRO subscribers can now turn off liquid glass with a new feature, *SimulatedOS, choose any historical Apple OS and reskin the UI to your liking, feeling nostalgic? Why not go all the way back to System 1 or even AppleDOS (requires *Apple AI PRO upgrade monty lifetime subscription)"

 

[Omega Mac]

So we are now going to pay for AI after they used our personal data free of charge to train these AIs.

Indeed, but specifically Apple users have already paid enough don't ya think?

Let the FB userbase cover the "Dye" overheads and the Berg can face the crowd. 😉

 

[thelion7]

Meta plans to test premium subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, the company has told TechCrunch.

The subscriptions will reportedly include exclusive features to aid creativity, productivity, and expanded AI capabilities.

Meta says each app will have its own distinct set of premium features, giving users "more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free." However, it sounds as if Meta hasn't yet settled on what each sub will offer, with the company planning to experiment with various bundles.

For Instagram, for example, premium subscribers could create unlimited audience lists, see which followers don't follow them back, and view Stories anonymously. Paid features on WhatsApp and Facebook are likely to provide equivalent functionality.

Meta also intends to incorporate Manus, an AI agent it recently acquired for a reported $2 billion, into its subscription plans. The company will continue selling Manus subscriptions to businesses separately.

AI-powered video appears to be another upcoming offering, courtesy of Meta's Vibes feature, which targets creators and businesses with verification badges and priority support. Vibes has been free since it launched last year, but Meta now plans to offer freemium access to Vibes video creation, with the option to subscribe to unlock additional video creation opportunities each month.

It won't be the first time a social platform has adopted subscription-based access. X (Twitter) has its paid-for tiers, and Snap has shown that the model can work, with Snapchat+ gaining 16 million subscribers at $3.99 per month.

Article Link: Premium Subscriptions Coming to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp

Thank god, I’ve left those platforms. It’s one thing to give us the service for free by exploiting us but now they have the nerve to give us the option to pay for being exploited

 

[Jamie0003]

Typical. Perfect opportunity to have a no ads, and we won’t track you subscription.

Classic meta

 

[everlast3434]

Imagine paying for Instagram? Ridiculous. I deleted all this stuff years ago and I've never thought twice about it.

 

[Agent007]

View attachment 2599416

I mostly hate GenAI but I like that you're costing the AI Cartel money by using their computing power as an alternative to text. More power to ya!

 

[ridgero]

The problem is its ubiquitousness, espcially utside of the US. When I had to reach my internet provider, rather than an expensive international call I simply used WhatsApp. I looked up their number on WA, called and connected. Getting people to move off of it will be challenging because so many are on it. The key will be the ability to interconnect with WA while building out a network of users. Of course, how do you pay for that?

People want free and full featured, so someone else pays the bills.

I don‘t want it for free, but I won‘t invest any cent in Meta

 

[Wx_Man]

View attachment 2599433

Remind me why Facebook is still called “Meta” since Zuckerberg has officially abandoned the “Metaverse” ?

 

[wikiverse]

The problem is its ubiquitousness, espcially utside of the US. When I had to reach my internet provider, rather than an expensive international call I simply used WhatsApp. I looked up their number on WA, called and connected. Getting people to move off of it will be challenging because so many are on it. The key will be the ability to interconnect with WA while building out a network of users. Of course, how do you pay for that?

People want free and full featured, so someone else pays the bills.

The second WhatsApp start charging for things that are currently free, people will move to Line or Kakao or other existing, popular apps.

 

[slippery-pete]

An absolute joke

 

[il_teo77]

Seems like the AI bubble is about to burst. Companies, surprisingly all of them, are now looking into ways to monetize the money pit they sank their money into. For Google it amounts to a sweet deal with Apple, which basically amounts to a discount of the money the pay yearly to be the default search engine on the iPhone. For ChatGPT is it not clear and they have no clue. For Meta it seems to be to create some sort of subscription for some sort of added capability of a product (it makes me laugh that the selling pitch is "view stories anonymously", looking forward to the lawsuits there and opening up so many stalking problems that I cannot even imagine).
Meanwhile established brands with subscription already have a revenue stream and customers "accustomed" to paying. Adobe, Microsoft Office, Apple, Soptify, all the streaming giants.

 

[emulator]

Facebook should add the ability for users to pay either a one-time fee or a monthly fee to have the ability to upload higher quality resolution photos than we can currently upload. The image quality- (especially for when we are sharing travel pictures with friends and family) is awful and I would PAY to be able to share images that actually show the detail of the high quality iPhone camera that I’m paying a lot for!

It was the main reason people joined these social networks in the first place!

You said it right, the main reason was so that people could brag about how much money they have and what they spent it on, your use case is further proof of that.

 

[tizeye]

We're already there with iPhones and Apple's iPhone upgrade program. While technically a purchase, if you use I it acts like a lease or subscription.

Technically doing that with T-Mobile where direct offsetting credit for payment of payment over two years. Essentially got the iPhone 15 for free (plus paying difference between basic that payment based on to Pro). Now fully paid as as of a couple months ago eligible to repeat with upgrade to 17. However, no hurry and will wait for either the 18 or the 15 needs a new battery, but battery percentage is still good.

 

[tizeye]

Time to get all your Android friends over to Apple. Is always a pain to launch WhatsApp just for them as they don't have Facetime.

 

[ThisIsMike]

I think the whole world should delete their social media accounts on a world-wide social media holiday, and then we offer to restore our accounts on each service if the provider pays a small monthly subscription fee. Slightly higher if they want the option to push advertising to us as well.

 

[dustin_]

i’ll sooner delete every single one of their apps than i’d ever pay meta a single dollar

 

[emulator]

The future ladies and gentlemen - "macOS PRO subscribers can now turn off liquid glass with a new feature, *SimulatedOS, choose any historical Apple OS and reskin the UI to your liking, feeling nostalgic? Why not go all the way back to System 1 or even AppleDOS (requires *Apple AI PRO upgrade monty lifetime subscription)"

Not worried a bit, anything that's downloaded can be cracked. Look at Adobe, only the **** that happens in the cloud isn't available.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

So they want to become like OnlyFans?

 

[211]

These subscriptions seem to be for Influencers and other people/companies that create a lot of content. I can't see someone who uses Meta products casually (most people) paying. I don't know if TikTok charges, but if not I suspect this will become even more popular.

As for WhatApp, I hate this app. It's so ugly and not relevant for people feeling the need they have to use it. I wish I can dump it, but some people only use WhatApp. I actually hope Meta makes WhatsApp worse so people will finally ditch it

 

[Mr. Heckles]

Yes, WhatsApp has begun its ********ation,

Begun? it's been happening for years.

and for the first time since its acquisition by Meta, there is a chance that users will finally move to an alternative!

No they won't. People all over the world use it, and most people won't move. Some might move, but the average user couldn't care less what Meta does. People have been saying this since Mata took over, and it hasn't happened.

 

[kirk.vino]

The things some would do to indulge in their vanity lol

 

[jonnysods]

Hey as long at its free to use Marketplace still they can charge what they like, who would pay money for social media, they already make money from your data.

 

[dumiku]

In the UK we can pay £3.99/month to use Meta without ads, but honestly I have zero faith in it. Even if I’m paying, I don’t believe for a second that my data is actually safe with them nor stop seeing ads.

You guys can pay to not see Ads? The only thing I was aware of is to pay to promote your page or something.
I deleted my Facebook account around 2014, then in 2016 I created another one with the same credentials, they actually prevented me from doing that until I wrote to them, and they ask for a picture of myself, I uploaded an old one from 2011 and they unlock it, look like they do not delete the account after all.