Meta is testing a paid version of Instagram in select markets. This premium service, called Instagram Plus, allows users to view story posts without being noticed by the poster and provides additional features such as creating audience groups, extending post time, and searching for viewer lists.
The US-based social media giant plans to offer Instagram Plus for around $2 per month. The feature set is currently being tested in markets like the Philippines, Japan, and Mexico, but it may change before its official launch in the United States.
While this new feature might seem invasive at first, Meta could potentially use Instagram Plus as a tool for social media managers to gain insights into post performance. However, users are still being monitored, raising concerns about unhealthy behavior.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/30/meta-testing-paid-instagram-service-that-lets-users-secretly-view-stories