WhatsApp tests cosmetic-focused premium subscription

WhatsApp is experimenting with a new premium subscription tier, dubbed WhatsApp Plus, offering users cosmetic enhancements like custom icons, themes, and ringtones. While the subscription provides organizational benefits such as pinning more chats, it largely avoids adding significant functional features. This move mirrors strategies seen in other Meta-owned platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. The company aims to gather user feedback on these optional premium features, which are currently in limited testing and unlikely to substantially impact Meta's revenue in the short term, despite the platform's massive user base.