In order to comply with the stringent data privacy regulations in Europe, Facebook and Instagram users now have the option to purchase ad-free versions of the social networking networks, parent firm Meta announced on Monday.
Customers using desktop browsers will pay approximately 10 euros ($10.50) each month starting in November, while customers using iOS or Android will pay approximately 13 euros. The company stated in a blog post that the increased costs are a reflection of the commissions the Apple and Google app stores charge on in-app purchases.
Up until March, all linked Facebook and Instagram accounts will be covered by the cost; after that, Meta will start charging 6 euros for each extra account.
Following a ruling by the European Union’s highest court that mandates Meta obtain user consent before displaying ads, the US tech giant is launching a subscription alternative. The decision puts the business’s revenue-generating strategy of customizing ads for each customer depending on their digital activities and online interests at risk.
Although it supports an “ad-supported internet,” the corporation stated that it respects “the spirit and purpose of these evolving European regulations” and is dedicated to adhering to them.
As per Meta, the premium option “allows Meta to continue serving all people while giving users choice and balancing the requirements of European regulators.”
Users in the EU’s 27 member states, as well as those in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, who are 18 years of age or older, will still be able to use Facebook or Instagram with advertisements.
