In exchange for exclusive Instagram Live videos and Stories, Instagram is testing paid subscriptions with a select number of creators and influencers in the United States.
Subscribers get a purple ‘subscriber’ tag that distinguishes them in creators’ comments and inboxes, and the trial has only been released to a few creators in the U.S. so far.
In a video broadcast on Twitter, Instagram boss, Adam Mosseri said, “Subscriptions are for creators. Creators do what they do to earn a living and it’s important that it’s predictable.”
Selected creators will be allowed to offer subscriptions for exclusive material, such as Instagram Stories (pictures or videos that disappear after 24 hours) and Instagram Lives real-time video streaming sessions, as part of the subscription trial.
Creators simply need to enable a “subscribe” button on their Instagram profile and choose a monthly pricing that suits them. Instagram also stated that until 2023, it will not charge creators any fees for these subscriptions, citing its commitment to support the platform’s creators.
Instagram subscriptions, according to a Meta (Facebook) spokesperson, range in price from $0.99 to $99.99, with options in between.
It is unknown when Instagram Subscriptions will be available worldwide. However, according to Mosseri, “Over time, we hope to expand these functions because it is important that subscriptions are integrated into the entire experience of Instagram.“