Meta is selling $3.99 monthly subscriptions for Instagram Plus

Meta is rolling out an Instagram subscription service for $3.99 a month, called Instagram Plus, which adds features such as "stories" that last for 48 hours, double the amount of time for nonpaying users. The new service is aimed at helping Meta diversify its revenue base, which is heavily dependent on advertising. The photo-sharing app will continue to be available for free, and nothing will change for nonpaying users, Instagram said in a Thursday post . "The Instagram you know and love today isn't changing — this subscription is simply an optional upgrade for people who want more," the company said. What do you get for $3.99 a month? Paid subscribers who post stories — images or videos that aren't permanent and can be seen for just 24 hours — can make them last for 48 hours. Subscribers to Instagram Plus can also create multiple audience lists to share certain content with specific groups of people. Meta says such upgrades help social media users maintain closer contact with followers. The paid service also includes new audience metrics for paid users. For example, they can see how many times their stories were rewatched, which could indicate how compelling the content was to their followers. Paid users can also quickly search to see if a specific viewer watched their story. Custom app icon, fonts Instagram Plus gives the app's users the ability to choose a custom app icon, versus just the standard tile. …