People using Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp will soon have to decide whether they choose a basic or premium subscription. The premium selection allows the use of special features that allow them to do things that basic users cannot. Although these might be coming soon, the company has said that they will keep their core foundation free for all users. On Jan. 25, Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company, announced that it would be testing a variety of features in its apps, trying to see what would improve the application. Additionally, they have shared plans to expand Manus, their Artificial Intelligence, which will cost around $2 billion.
The company will try to expand AI into other software, like Instagram and Facebook. They will most likely do this through widgets that take you directly into Manus from the app itself. Meta is already implementing Manus into Instagram, but there is no information on the progress.
Meta is also trying to make an AI to create videos similar to Vibes Video Generation, an AI video generator that they also own. This software is part of the Meta family, and they will attempt to put this into Manus as well. Vibes has been free to use since its launch last year, but the company will make a ‘Freemium’ version, which will most likely have better editing tools and faster and smarter video generation.
Meta Verified is a subscription service that gives you a blue checkmark on Instagram and Facebook, which is supposed to denote an exclusive member. It promotes your account and is supposed to give you more credibility online. This is not the same as the premium subscription. The premium subscriptions give access to features. Although Meta Verified does give you exclusive features, they are not the same as the subscription’s.
Implementing such a big change as this may be good or bad. Users may be appalled about the lack of things they are missing out on, or they won’t want to pay for the premium and look for other platforms to offer the same things, but for free. Ultimately, we will have to wait and see.
Works Cited:
“Meta Confirms Testing of Premium Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Subscriptions.” CNET, 2026, www.cnet.com/news/social-media/meta-confirms-testing-of-premium-instagram-facebook-and-whatsapp-subscriptions/. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
“Meta Verified: Get the Verified Badge on Instagram & Facebook.” Meta Verified: Get the Blue Check on Instagram & Facebook, 2026, www.meta.com/meta-verified/?srsltid=AfmBOoqEhblVbBPoA1CLTHgw3Zel82yLUW8teWPA7N8VieZ0IKPAN_ts. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Malik, Aisha. “Meta to Test Premium Subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp | TechCrunch.” TechCrunch, 26 Jan. 2026, techcrunch.com/2026/01/26/meta-to-test-premium-subscriptions-on-instagram-facebook-and-whatsapp/#link=. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
MyBib Contributors. “MLA Citation Generator – Easy & Free – (8th Edition, 2019).” MyBib, 26 May 2019, www.mybib.com/tools/mla-citation-generator.
