Facebook and Instagram launch ad-free subscription tier in EU

In most of Europe, Facebook and Instagram are introducing membership services that will eliminate advertisements from their networks.

The platforms controlled by Meta will allow users to subscribe for an ad-free experience for €9.99 (£8.72) per month. The UK won’t be able to purchase it.

Meta was fined €390 million in January for violating EU data regulations pertaining to advertisements.

At the time, the regulator declared that the company could not “force consent” by requiring users to authorize the use of their data or quit the platforms.

Beginning in November, only residents of the EU, the Eurasian Economic Area, and Switzerland will be able to access this subscription tier.

However, it will initially only be available to those over the age of 18, as the company is now investigating ways to show advertisements to minors in the EU without violating any laws.

Meta stated that resolving EU concerns was the primary goal of their new subscription service, not profit.

“We believe in an ad-supported internet, which gives people access to personalised products and services regardless of their economic status,” the company stated on its website.

Giving consumers a choice and enabling Meta to go on providing services to everyone in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland while satisfying regulatory obligations in Europe is achieved by offering the option to purchase a subscription with no advertisements.

“We respect the spirit and purpose of these evolving European regulations, and are committed to complying with them.”

The options available to users will be to either pay to fully opt out of targeted advertising by eliminating them or to continue using the platforms for free, in which case their data would be collected.

However, they could have to pay more than the first monthly charge.

If paid for on iOS or Android, the service will cost an extra €3 a month to cover the additional costs collected by these platforms.

However, by purchasing the platform through the Facebook and Instagram websites as opposed to the mobile apps, this additional cost can be avoided.

Users will have to pay extra starting in March 2024 for any additional account they have on the platforms, such as a personal and business account.

The news follows the launch of an ad-free Premium+ service by Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, for £16 a month.

On X, there’s also a far more affordable subscription plan that offers the ability to modify posts along with the usual premium tier that comes with a blue checkmark and other perks.

Additionally, TikTok has been testing a $4.99 monthly membership to remove commercials. However, there is currently no word on when this will be made available internationally.

Read more at News Intercept:

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