As some users have noticed, Meta is rolling out premium subscriptions that bundle AI tools with ad-free access, shifting advanced features behind a paywall while free users remain part of its advertising model.

On January 26, Meta announced that it was going to test premium subscriptions across its apps. The subscriptions will offer exclusive features and expanded AI tools, while ad-supported versions remain free.

Under the test, users are presented with a clear choice between two paths. People can subscribe to use Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp without ads, or continue using the services for free while agreeing to ongoing data use for advertising purposes.

Meta claims the subscriptions will “unlock productivity, creativity, and AI-powered features,” with each app receiving its own set of paid tools rather than a single bundled plan. The company isn’t committing to one configuration and plans in order to experiment with different feature sets and pricing models over time.

  • NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zipEnglish
    7·
    5 hours ago

    Instagram and WhatsApp… So hard to get people to stop. Particularly where smaller countries and people who travel are, where WhatsApp is the default phone.

    So shitty.

    • ok_effect@feddit.dkEnglish
      2·
      4 hours ago

      If anyone wants to talk to me, they’ll have to use one of the myriad ways to keep in touch that don’t involve Meta. I refuse to continue to be their product and help them keep the idea alive that they should somehow be unavoidable. Meta relies entirely on the relational networks of people, so I removed my node from their system and made their product a little worse for anybody interested in engaging with me. Life is better without Meta dopamin/rage addiction anyway.

      • NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zipEnglish
        21·
        2 hours ago

        Sure, I won’t use anything meta.

        But it can be hard like I said. You want to make an appointment with a doctor, an electrician, flower delivery? They want your WhatsApp. You can’t make an appointment without it. They can’t fill out their billing system. They won’t call you on your phone because your number is long distance.

        Everyone just expects WhatsApp. Makes it hard.

        • Encrypt-Keeper@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          2 hours ago

          As an American the thought of your doctor requiring WhatsApp to communicate with you is just a foreign concept lol

          • NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zipEnglish
            1·
            33 minutes ago

            Imagine if every state had a different cell phone carrier or go back even further to when it was long distance even just blocks or cities over. Now imagine a technology comes in that doesn’t care what carrier you are on, or if it’s long distance.

            That is kind of what happened to countries. Especially if you have people who work in one and live in another or have clients in another.

            So even though now maybe it isn’t long distance, or carriers talk to each other, everyone is used to the way they have been doing it for free.

          • turdburglar@piefed.socialEnglish
            32·
            1 hour ago

            sure but first, as an american, you have to make sure the doctor in question is ‘in network’

              • turdburglar@piefed.socialEnglish
                1·
                15 minutes ago

                sorry, the joke was about your ‘weird’ whatsapp communications vs our totally fuken stupid healthcare middlemen only exist to extract money from the doctor/patient relationship.