Instagram's New Premium Subscription Enables Anonymous Story Viewing
Instagram users may be unaware that their Stories could be under secret surveillance right now. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has initiated testing for a premium subscription service named Instagram Plus. One of its standout features permits subscribers to view anyone's Instagram Stories without the poster's knowledge. These Stories, which typically vanish after 24 hours, would become visible to paying users who remain completely anonymous to the content creator.
What Instagram Plus Offers to Subscribers
Instagram Plus provides several enhanced functionalities designed for power users. Subscribers gain the ability to create unlimited audience lists, allowing them to share Stories with specific groups rather than all followers or Close Friends. Social media consultant Matt Navarra recently previewed Instagram Plus on Threads, another Meta-owned platform, revealing additional perks.
- Extending a Story's lifespan by an extra 24 hours and highlighting one weekly.
- "Superliking" content with a more vibrant heart icon.
- Viewing how many people have rewatched a Story.
- Previewing Stories without appearing in the viewer list.
- Searching the Story viewer list instead of manually scrolling.
A dedicated Instagram Plus page on the platform's Help Center confirms the feature's limited availability, stating it is not accessible to all users currently.
Global Testing and User Reactions
The anonymous Stories feature is being trialed in Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines, as reported by social media posts. Monthly pricing varies by country: approximately £1.65 in Mexico, £1.51 in Japan, and 81p in the Philippines. However, the feature has sparked mixed reactions, with some users expressing discomfort. One individual in northern Japan labeled the ability to track Story rewatches as "creepy," highlighting privacy concerns.
Meta may expand testing to other nations, though the company has not officially commented on the rollout plans. This development follows Meta's announcement two months ago about testing subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
Broader Context of Meta's Subscription Strategy
Instagram Plus aligns with Meta's broader push into premium services. Most subscription packages include advanced AI capabilities, such as access to Vibes, an AI-powered short-form video generator within the Meta AI app. Leaks also suggest the inclusion of Manus, an AI agent that assists with tasks like content research. Additionally, Meta has begun offering an ad-free experience for £3.99 per month, signaling a shift toward diversified revenue streams beyond advertising.
As social media platforms evolve, features like anonymous viewing raise questions about user privacy and the monetization of digital interactions. The testing phase will likely influence whether Instagram Plus becomes a permanent, widely available option.
