In yet another cash grab, Meta is introducing subscription plans across its social media network, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
I’ve said many times that the greed of these mega online entities knows no bounds. Google has also recently increased YouTube Premium and YouTube Music subscriptions, even though its paid subscriber base has seen significant growth. Surely that situation should call for a reduction in fees, not an increase?
Now Meta has announced the introduction of a “Plus” tier across its social media platforms, with those who subscribe to Instagram Plus ($3.99/mo), Facebook Plus ($3.99/mo), or WhatsApp Plus ($2.99/mo) gaining access to additional features, such as profile customization, super reactions, and story insights.
Meta is also testing other subscription offerings, including professional plans for creators and businesses, and AI-focused plans for all users. All these subscription offerings will be provided under a new platform name, “Meta One”.
I am not a fan of social media to begin with, so I certainly am not interested in paying for any advanced features, but I can understand how the younger generation might see things differently. Over and above all, I cannot believe the greed of these already mega-wealthy companies.
At a time when they should be looking at maybe giving something back to society, all they seem interested in is accumulating more and more money. It begs the question, just how much money is enough?
Will you be looking into subscribing to these Meta One “Plus” plans? Or are you of the same opinion as myself, that social media is best avoided?
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Great article Jim. To the filthy rich, more is the only word they know. And I am of the same opinion as you that social media is best avoided. Find it an odd contradiction of words “social media” because I am a social guy, Mindblower! 🙂
Oh well, as they try to force subscription onto people, many will opt out completely.
Because in the end it’s just a case of more and more advertising for those who don’t pay any subs.
And most won’t tolerate that approach for very long.
I’m nearing the end of my internet journey. Soon there won’t be anything left to read or interact with that doesn’t involve substantial advertising before the event that I want to see.
So just easier to opt out completely.
A bit sad really because there are a very few things that are still worth viewing but they end up smothered under a mass of crap.
Hey Clissa,
I agree 100%. Unfortunately, the internet is an excellent platform for advertising, and businesses know it.
I can only suggest that you start using an ad-blocker, uBlock Origin would be a good choice. You can whitelist the sites you visit regularly (such as DCT) so ads will still display only on those sites.
Thanks Jim
No I won’t be paying any subscription for Facebook, YouTube etc either. In fact I actively try to avoid anything “subscription” unless I absolutely cannot do without it for my sanity and/or security or else I can justify the cost by ending up with a net positive financial benefit – eg my Amazon Prime membership where I would otherwise spend that membership cost and more on freight charges over twelve months.
I think the media companies feel that they have integrated themselves so much into our lives that we can no longer do without them and therefore the time is now ripe to both replace their human workers with the “wondrous” Ai and at the same time start charging “subscriptions” often for default features that were previously included. For example, the streaming media companies didn’t used to display ads but now they all seemingly do so you have to pay extra to “not see” ads. A win-win all round for the Megacorps I guess. I do my bit to fight back online with Google’s YouTube which is where I spend most of my online browsing time by using a semi-lethal combination of Firefox, UBlock origin and Sponsor Block which seems to knock out YouTube ads pretty well – just adds few extra seconds spooling at the beginning of a video which is more than tolerable.
Cheers
Reg
Hey Reg,
I have to admit that when Amazon first launched here in Oz I was less than impressed. However, I now regard my Prime subscription as a must have, great value.
The problem is that the younger generation is so far into social media that many truly cannot be without it… and us old fogies have very little to zero influence in that arena.
Cheers mate… Jim
I guess they are trying to recoup some of the money they are having to pay out from their class action lawsuits years ago they are having to pay on , I just got my second pittance from them from back when they were sued for selling peoples information years ago.
But seriously, why would you want to make someone who is disgustingly rich even richer, besides what they offer for what they are wanting to charge is not even worth it. Even though I haven’t used any sort of social media in years , but there will be those that will pay it and Zuck will be able to purchase an even bigger mansion, yacht , plane or what have you while those that pay for it will struggle to pay their own bills.
Facebook is basically the only social media I use regularly. The day Fb imposes a subscription fee is the day I eliminated that black hole time sucker from my short list of bad habits.
The cable TV giants developed a business model that aggressively pushed for higher subscription fees until the public got fed up, started cutting the cord and streaming their content. Through their endless greed, they essentially killed the goose that was laying their golden eggs. They say the writing on the wall and started buying up all the online streaming startups that were suddenly growing popular. They own them all now. The problem is, they are applying the same stupid, greedy business model that killed cable TV. They will aggressively push up the cost of streaming TV options until people can’t afford them any longer. The people will struggle to find a way to get their entertainment, but the big streamers will have killed another golden goose. At some point, people will be more likely to bootleg their entertainment content than to buy it. I have no sympathy for the media companies.