Coming soon to Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp: subscription content
31 January 2026
Aisha Malik, writing for TechCrunch:
The launch of additional subscriptions will allow Meta to generate more revenue; however, many users may be deterred by subscription fatigue. With so many paid services competing for monthly spending, Meta will have to offer a compelling product to get users to sign up for yet another subscription.
Meta plans to trial subscriptions on Facebook (FB), Instagram (IG), and WhatsApp. I’m pleased I’ve managed to so far avoid signing up to WhatsApp, and only make minimal use of Facebook.
I check in a little on IG though, so am expecting to see sign up prompts for a subscription service of some sort, should they be rolled out. I can’t see myself taking up the offer though.
No matter how compelling the product might be. But what would it take to make a subscription product available through FB, IG, or WhatsApp, compelling enough to pay for in the first place?
Considering such content may already be accessible through another channel, either for free, or that someone is already paying to see. Does Meta not earn enough advertising revenue as it is?
In the meantime, I nominate “subscription-fatigue” as word of the year for 2026.
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I ditched Farcebook about 6 years ago. Best thing I ever did. I’ve never used IG. I really wish I could avoid WhatsApp. Everyone I communicate with is on it. I’ve tried coaxing people elsewhere but they want to stick with the sheep.
Amazed you’ve managed to avoid it.
I’d like to do away with FB but quite a few family and friends are “all in” on it. They do everything, including communicating with others, through it.
I get the feeling I’ll be forced onto WhatsApp eventually, but have stubbornly refused to use it so far.