Meta announced today that it is rolling out a series of new creator updates across Instagram and Facebook. Most notably, the company announced that developers on Instagram will soon be able to create their own NFTs and sell them directly to fans, both on and off Instagram. With this update, developers have access to a toolkit to help them create, present, and sell NFTs. Polygon is the first partner chosen by Meta for this feature.
People on Instagram can buy the NFTs directly in the app. Meta says the process will take place via traditional in-app purchases for iOS and Android. And for now, Instagram isn’t taking any cuts in creators’ earnings. Meta is testing this new feature with a small group of developers in the US and plans to expand it to more countries in the future.
Instagram is also adding support for the Solana blockchain and Phantom wallet, joining the blockchains and wallets already supported, including Rainbow, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, Dapper Wallet, Ethereum, Polygon, and Flow. Additionally, information for select collections where OpenSea metadata has been enriched, such as collection name and descriptions, will now be available on Instagram.
In addition to the NFT updates, Instagram is also expanding access to subscriptions for all eligible creators in the US. The social network began testing subscriptions with a small group of creators in January. With this feature, creators can offer their followers paid access to exclusive Instagram Live videos and Stories. Subscribers also get a special badge to help them stand out in the comments section and creators’ inboxes.
Meta also announced that Facebook is expanding access to Stars, which allows creators to monetize directly from followers on Reels, Live and Video on Demand. Facebook will also begin testing automatic onboarding for creators, meaning the ability to submit stars will automatically appear in their content. Facebook also brings stars for non-video content like photos and text posts.
For creators already using Stars, Facebook brings Stars Party to roll. A Stars Party is a Stars community challenge that ends with a celebration when the creator achieves their goal, Meta says.
The social network also gives creators on Facebook more tools to connect with people who send stars. For example, in the Comments Manager, creators can add a filter that shows all of a creator’s star comments in one place, giving creators the ability to reply to multiple comments at once.
Meta also announced that it is introducing gifts on Instagram, starting with roles, to give creators a new way to make money from their fans. With the new feature, fans can send gifts on reels by buying stars on Instagram. Meta is initially testing this feature with a small group of creators in the US and plans to expand it to more creators soon.
In addition, Meta is extending its profile settings for Facebook Pro mode to all creators. Professional mode is designed for developers who want to monetize their followers on the social network. Facebook began testing professional mode with select creators in December 2021 and is now offering it to everyone on its platform.
The new changes come at a time when Meta is investing in its creator user base, as it sees potential in a new revenue stream that comes from things like creator subscriptions.
With these new updates, Instagram is trying to secure its platform against the threat of competition, especially TikTok, which is attracting a growing number of developers. And as Meta continues to build the metaverse, it will need the support of developers, so it’s not surprising that it’s trying to expand its offerings for developers.