Instagram has started testing the Creator Subscription model with a small number of creators in the US. This will allow creators to make more money from Instagram. At the time of launch, Instagram has allowed only 10 creators to have access to the feature, as Instagram considers this an “alpha” test. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has said that they will be adding more creators to the list in the coming days.
Currently, the list of alpha creators includes actor and influencer @alanchikinchow; basketball player @sedona._; astrologer @alizakelly; dancer/actress/model @kelseylynncook; digital creator @elliottnorris; Olympic silver medalist @jordanchiles; gymnast and creator @jackjerry; spiritual coach and artist @bunnymichael; XR creator @donalleniii; and digital creator @lonnieiiv.
The creators will be able to choose the subscription price point. There are eight price points to choose from, starting at $0.99 per month to as much as $99.99 per month. These 8 price points are $0.99, $1.99, $2.99, $4.99, $9.99, $19.99, $49.99 and $99.99 per month. After subscription creators can offer the following benefits to their subscribers:
Subscriber Lives: Creators can broadcast exclusive Lives to their subscribers, allowing them to engage more deeply.
Subscriber Stories: Creators can create stories just for their subscribers, allowing them to share exclusive content and to use interactive story stickers with their most engaged followers only.
Subscriber Badges: Creators will see a subscriber badge next to comments and messages so they can easily identify their subscribers.
There are reports that Instagram is developing technology that would prevent creators’ exclusive content from being screenshotted. But this feature isn’t available as of right now.
In 2020 Facebook launched a subscription feature. And later they announced that they will not take fees from creators for subscription purchases till 2023. And this will also apply to Instagram. Meaning Instagram also will not charge creators any fees till 2023.
This move from Instagram was somewhat expected. Instagram had to take steps against its competitor especially against TikTok which also launched a monetization feature for creators back in Dec 2021. And there is YouTube and Snapchat which also have similar short-form video products, like Instagram’s TikTok clone called Reels. Even Twitter has launched its own creator initiative with its Super Follow platform.