Instagram is testing a monthly subscription service called 'Instagram Plus' as it expands its paid features, prompting a variety of reactions from users in South Korea.
Recently, screenshots of the new subscription service have circulated on online communities and social media, drawing significant interest.
According to the shared screenshots, Instagram is offering a one-month free trial followed by a subscription fee of $3.99 per month (approximately 2,800 won). However, prices may vary by country.
The screenshots also detail features available with the Instagram Plus subscription.
Key features include: ▲ setting multiple audience targets for stories ▲ providing statistics on story replays ▲ searching the list of story viewers ▲ previewing stories ▲ extending story expiration periods ▲ sending super hearts on stories ▲ enhancing story visibility.
Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion of the long-requested 'story viewer search feature,' which has garnered significant attention. The bottom of the screen includes a prompt to "Start your free trial" along with a note stating, "Subscriptions will automatically renew until canceled."
Users in South Korea have expressed mixed reactions, with comments such as, "Can I check how many times my ex viewed my story? This is a crisis," "This seems like a path to failure," "If boosting visibility for over 24 hours is included, influencers and creators might have to subscribe," "Please sell an ad removal program for a fee," "This will fail soon," "It seems like visitor tracking is on the horizon," and "This shows the negative impact this company has on humanity."
As of now, Instagram has not officially announced whether the service will have a global launch. However, with major social media platforms increasingly enhancing paid subscription models to diversify revenue sources beyond advertising, there is speculation that Instagram is also moving towards expanding its premium features.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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