Following a modest launch of premium subscriptions for creators earlier this year, Instagram is launching new capabilities today to expand the user experience and more effectively compete with Twitter in this space. The platform wants to be “the best place online for creators to make a living,” according to Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, and the new additions are a direct result of input from creators who took part in the early round of subscriptions.
The ability to publish feed posts that are only available to subscribers is the most important new feature. Previously, creators could do this using stories, but now they have the option of providing exclusive, conventional Instagram feed postings to their paying supporters. This was the company’s most popular request, according to Mosseri. On creator profiles, a new “subscriber home” page will allow subscribers to view only the photographs and Reels that are made available to them.
A purple emblem is added to subscriber profiles to show support for a creative or influencer. Subscriptions can cost between $0.99 and $99.99. Additionally to stories and feed postings, authors have the option of going live just for their subscribers. Additionally, a new feature they can chat (through group DM) with up to 30 subscribers at once.
Instagram has gradually increased subscriptions and made them available to “tens of thousands” of American producers, but Mosseri admits that the firm still has to expand internationally. In the video, he stated that this was simply the first stage in a much longer process to provide creators all around the world access to a variety of tools that would enable them to earn a career online. However, we’re very enthusiastic about this one.
Major updates to the Instagram app are currently being developed by the firm, including a full-screen feed. In order to perfect the new, video-optimized feed without detracting from the presentation of still photographs, Instagram is reacting to feedback, particularly from photographers, which, according to Mosseri, will likely take many months before it reaches everyone. For users who want more choice over how Instagram sorts the content they view in the app, the firm reinstated a chronological feed earlier this year (along with a new favorites option).