Meta is getting ready to launch new paid subscription options across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, marking the next phase of its monetisation strategy beyond the blue tick verification introduced in 2023.
The company is expected to begin trialling the new plans in the coming months. While the core versions of the platforms will remain free to use, access to advanced AI-driven features will require a paid subscription. Meta has yet to announce pricing details.
Subscriptions Focus on Tools, Not Badges
Although Meta’s current paid offering centres on identity verification, the upcoming subscriptions are designed to deliver practical, action-based features rather than visual status symbols.
Subscribers are expected to receive access to:
- AI-powered digital assistants
- Enhanced content creation tools
- Automation features for workflow efficiency
- Expanded posting and link-sharing capabilities
Free users will continue to enjoy existing services, but without these premium enhancements.
Manus AI Deal Fuels New Capabilities
Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of Manus, an artificial intelligence firm based in Singapore, is central to the new subscription rollout. The deal was completed in December.
Manus’s technology differs from standard chatbots by autonomously carrying out tasks once a request is made. For instance, users could ask the AI to organise a travel itinerary, generate a presentation, or manage schedules without extensive prompting.
While Meta will continue offering Manus subscriptions to business clients, the underlying technology will also be embedded into consumer subscription tiers.
AI Designed for Creativity and Efficiency
According to Meta, the new paid plans will prioritise productivity and creativity, giving users access to tools that can:
- Plan trips and build presentations
- Generate videos using apps such as Vibes
- Automate content scheduling and posting
Existing features will remain unchanged for free users, but subscribers will gain tools designed to significantly improve efficiency and creative output.
Meta Pushes Beyond Ad-Driven Revenue
The move underscores Meta’s effort to expand revenue sources beyond advertising. Paid verification was an early experiment, but the company now believes users are more willing to pay for useful, time-saving AI tools.
Meta has already tested aspects of this model, including trials that restrict the number of links free users can share, while offering subscribers greater flexibility.
Impact on Users and Creators
For casual users, the new subscriptions present a choice between continuing with the free experience or upgrading for smarter tools.
For content creators and businesses, the AI-powered features could streamline content planning, publishing, and audience engagement, making social media management more efficient.
As competition intensifies in the social media space, Meta is betting that AI-powered productivity features, rather than verification badges alone, will drive user willingness to pay.
