Meta Copies Snapchat's Homework Again With 'Plus' Features for Instagram and Facebook

["Meta announced new subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp this week, marking another attempt by the company to diversify its revenue streams. The plans, dubbed 'Plus,' will offer users extra features for a monthly fee. Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus will cost $4 a month, while WhatsApp Plus will be available for $3 a month.

The features will roll out globally this summer.", "The move is not surprising, given Meta's history of mimicking successful features from other social media platforms. Specifically, Snapchat's influence can be seen in many of Instagram's features, including Stories, which Instagram launched in 2016. At the time, Instagram's then-CEO Kevin Systrom gave credit to Snapchat for the format, saying 'they deserve all the credit.'", "Evan Spiegel, the cofounder and CEO of Snap, has been a vocal presence in the tech industry, and his company has been a source of inspiration for Meta.

Snapchat launched a 'Maps' tool in 2017, which allowed users to see the locations of their friends. Instagram followed suit last year with a similar feature. And while Instagram's recently launched 'Instants' app bears more resemblance to BeReal, disappearing photo messages are a staple of Snapchat.", "According to Maria Cubeta, a Meta spokesperson, the company is 'testing and scaling new subscriptions that provide deeper, more enhanced ways to use our apps and AI glasses.' The 'Plus' plans are just the start of a larger 'Meta One' umbrella of subscription offerings, which will eventually include different tiers catering to businesses, creators, and users who want extra access to Meta AI.", "At launch, Instagram Plus will offer the most extra features, including additional pins on a user's profile, unique bio fonts, and 'Super Heart' reaction buttons.

Facebook Plus will mainly allow users to control and customize their experience with Story posts, while WhatsApp Plus will include more pinned chats, visual customizations, and premium stickers. Snapchat, meanwhile, has seen success with its own subscription plan, Snapchat+, which offers users access to exclusive features and has helped the company achieve a '$1 billion annualized revenue run rate' in direct payments."]