Meta Tests Instagram Premium With Anonymous Stories Viewing

Overview

• A Meta spokesperson confirmed Monday that Instagram is testing a paid tier in select countries.
• Paying users can view other accounts’ Stories in private, which hides their name from the viewer list.
• The pilot offers deeper Stories controls, including unlimited audience lists and the option to keep a Story live for an extra 24 hours.
• The test is reported to run in Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines at a price of a few dollars a month, with some outlets citing about $2.
• Meta is gauging demand as it looks beyond advertising, following ad‑free plans in the UK and as rivals like Snapchat grow paid plans to 25 million subscribers.