this post was submitted on 27 Jan 2026
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196
Meta's latest subscription move is an attempt to offset its AI bets (appleinsider.com)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by tonytins@pawb.social to c/technology@lemmy.world
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On January 26, Meta announced that it was going to test premium subscriptions across its apps. The subscriptions will offer exclusive features and expanded AI tools, while ad-supported versions remain free.

Under the test, users are presented with a clear choice between two paths. People can subscribe to use Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp without ads, or continue using the services for free while agreeing to ongoing data use for advertising purposes.

Meta claims the subscriptions will "unlock productivity, creativity, and AI-powered features," with each app receiving its own set of paid tools rather than a single bundled plan. The company isn't committing to one configuration and plans in order to experiment with different feature sets and pricing models over time.

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[โ€“] Pika@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

honestly, with how much my grandfather uses facebook, and how often he clicks the stupid scam ads, this might be a valid option for him that is easier.

This ofc is if they decide to launch this program for <3$ a month. If it's anything more than that I see it flopping on entry.

edit: looking at the article, I'm seeing 4EUR/m... yea 5$ isn't horrible, but at the same time that's probably too high for him to even consider it. That's 2$ less than a yt lite premium subscription, and that's a platform where ads actually get in the way of things.

[โ€“] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 10 points 1 day ago

I doubt they are actually going to block scams with the subscription service. Probably just block banner ads or some shit but keep the fake posts and such.