Instagram has begun a test to allow creators to offer paid subscriptions for exclusive content.
The test, for now limited to a small number of creators, allows them to set a monthly price (ranging from $0.99 t $99.99), unlock a “subscribe” button on their profiles, and enable followers to pay a monthly fee to access subscriber-only content, such as exclusive Lives and Stories.
Subscribers will also get badges that will display next to their comments and messages, to highlight their status to creators.
In its blog announcement, Instagram said it plans to expand access to more creators over the next few months.
Parent company Meta, in line with its current policy for Facebook subscriptions, will not begin taking a cut of subscription fees until 2023 at earliest.
Meta also said it "hopes” in future to build tools providing Instagram creators with ways to connect with their followers outside of the platform.