Meta Users To Pay For Instagram and Facebook Subscriptions From November 1
Social media giant Meta said Facebook and Instagram users in Europe and Switzerland will be able to opt for paid subscriptions to stop seeing ads from November 1.
Users in the region will pay €9.99 per month if they purchase a subscription on the web and €12.99 per month on iOS and Android. Prices vary due to fees charged by Apple and Google. The registration aims to address European Union concerns about Meta’s data collection and ad targeting practices.
By asking users to choose between paying for the service to eliminate ad targeting or using the service for free but agreeing to its data collection practices, Meta believes it will respond more clearly and decisively to the privacy requirements set by European data laws, including the Digital Markets Act and GDPR.
Meta notes that the initial subscription includes all linked accounts in the user’s Account Center until March 1, 2024. However, starting March 1, 2024, an additional fee of €6/month on the web and €8/month on iOS and Android will apply to each additional account listed in the Account Center of the user.
Free access is still available with ads Meta, in a statement released on Monday, said users still have the option to continue using its product for free, and their user experience will remain the same.
Advertisers will be able to continue to launch personalized advertising campaigns in Europe to reach those who choose to continue benefiting from Meta’s free service.
The company reassures users that the option to upgrade to a paid, ad-free subscription is voluntary, and free access to Meta’s social media platforms will remain for users who don’t mind watching advertisements.
“We believe in a free, ad-supported Internet and will continue to provide everyone with free access to our personalized products and services, regardless of income.
It also allows small businesses to reach potential customers, expand their businesses, and create new markets, thereby promoting the growth of the European economy,” Meta said in the statement. Meta said it will continue to support an ad-supported business model, despite the current trend toward subscription-based services.
Going forward, the company said it will continue to invest in creating new tools that help preserve the value that individuals and businesses receive from personalized advertising while also allowing users to control their advertising experience on the company’s platform.
