Insta Subscriptions: Definitely Unethical But Are They Legal?

Instagram Subscriptions suddenly started hogging limelight after AISF leaders filed a complaint against Vishnupriya Bheemineni at the Vijayawada Cyber Crime Police Station, alleging she posted indecent content on Instagram and charged for subscriptions.

There are reports her Subscriptions surged big time after the news came out. Later, we have heard Ananya Nagalla start her subscriptions and Ashu Reddy following.

For those who do not know, Instagram does not pay its creators for the views they generate. They can make exclusive content available under Instagram Subscriptions. Those who wants to avail that content should pay certain amount per month. Instagram charges a small portion of that and the remaining will go to creators.

Some girls have been offering ‘Hot Content’ under Subscriptions and charging anywhere between 199 to 499 Rupees Per Month. Some heroines who are not doing well in their careers are making good money via these subscriptions. In days to come, we will see more girls starting their Instagram Subscriptions.

But the question now is this right? Those who are filing Police Complaints are taking about ethical correctness but legal correctness is a different topic. The basic question is if these girls are doing ‘Skin Show’ or publishing obscene content.

There are no laws differentiating both but the general argument is ‘Skin Shows’ are present in the movies too and the Government allows them.

Indian law restricts publishing or transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material in electronic form, including via social media platforms like Instagram.

Consuming adult content privately is generally not illegal for adults. Such Private consumption is protected under privacy rights, per Supreme Court views. Creating and distributing/selling it (even paid and “private” to subscribers) is the risky part. Consent between adults does not override obscenity laws.

India has aggressively banned multiple OTT platforms (e.g., Ullu, ALTT, MoodX, NeonX, and over 25 others in 2025) for streaming “obscene, vulgar, and soft porn” content, citing IT Act violations, women’s dignity, and youth protection.

But then, the Instagram Subscriptions may not be under this category as these Apps are almost offering Soft Porn or Porn.

Again the women operating the Instagram accounts are operating in grey-risk areas with arbitrary enforcement. Complaints, reports, or visibility can trigger police action, account bans, or FIRs.

There is another trend going on. Some people are creating women using AI and are offering this Hot content via subscriptions. Our youth seems to be so sexually deprived that even these AI women are making good money.

However, it will be matter of time, Porn enters these subscriptions and that will make the space murkier and force the Government to act.

Sooner or later, the Platforms may also crack down these subscriptions.