Want to stalk Instagram stories without being seen? A paid option may be coming

Meta is experimenting with a paid subscription for Instagram that could let users watch Stories anonymously — among other perks. The trial began earlier this year in select countries, including Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines.

One of the main features being tested allows subscribers to view Stories without their names appearing on the viewer list. Beyond secret viewing, the subscription also adds several new tools:

• Create unlimited audience lists for Stories, expanding on the current Close Friends feature.

• See how many times a Story has been rewatched.

• Highlight one Story per week for extra visibility.

• Send animated “super hearts” to boost engagement.

• Extend Story visibility for an additional 24 hours.

• Search through the Story viewer list rather than scrolling manually.

A Meta spokesperson told FOX Local that the goal of the trial is to explore which premium features users find most useful while keeping the main Instagram experience free.

The testing comes amid increasing scrutiny of Meta’s platforms. Recent legal cases in New Mexico and California have found that Meta contributed to harm to children’s mental health and addictive platform use, resulting in compensation claims.

Despite the controversies, experts say the move could create a new revenue stream for Meta and provide more advanced, personalized tools for users willing to pay for extra control and features.

Currently, the subscription is limited to a small number of markets, and Meta has not confirmed whether it will expand the program globally.