It seems that companies just can’t get enough of offering subscriptions. We all would love to use social media apps without paying a single cent; however, according to TechCrunch, Meta apparently is planning to convert Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp into “freemium” apps, if you will. According to Meta, each app will offer exclusive features specifically for that app, giving users “more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free.”
Now, I can see how this news could spark a major uproar among users, but other social platforms have been offering subscriptions. X, formerly Twitter, offers Premium and Premium+ tiers for exclusive features such as verified checkmark(s) and little to no ads. Snap also offers Snapchat+ for just $3.99 per month.
Still, I hope Meta will offer some sort of trial for those who are interested in trying out the upcoming premium features across those three apps. There are definitely some people who are not interested in paying monthly or yearly for services. Just recently, Apple introduced Apple Creator Studio, which is set to launch tomorrow for $12.99 per month or $129 per year. If you’re a student, you could get the bundle for as low as $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. In a similar fashion, three apps in that bundle: Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, will become freemium apps for the first time, so while they continue to be free for everyone to download and install, only some exclusive features, such as premium templates, will require an Apple Creator Studio subscription.
There are both pros and cons whether it’s a one-time purchase or a recurring subscription, but for people who are no longer interested in using any of those Meta apps after hearing this news, at least they put an end to “doomscrolling” for good. What do you think about Meta’s upcoming plans to offer premium features via subscriptions? Sound off in the comments below.
