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In January 2023, Meta faced significant backlash from the European Union, resulting in a hefty €377 million fine for the tech giant. Since then, Meta has made substantial adaptations to its applications to align with EU regulations. These changes have culminated in the introduction of their ad-free subscription service.
This move is in accordance with the European Union’s Digital Marketers Act legislation, which mandates that companies must obtain user consent before tracking them for advertising purposes—an aspect Meta had previously overlooked.
To comply with this rule while maintaining its ad-supported business model, Meta is rolling out an ad-free subscription service. This service caters to users who prefer not to see targeted ads on their Instagram and Facebook feeds, all while bolstering the company’s revenue.
The subscription price varies based on where you make the purchase. If you opt for the ad-free plan via Meta’s desktop platform, it will cost €9.99 per month. However, if you choose to subscribe on your Android or iOS device, the price increases to €12.99 per month. This difference is likely due to fees imposed by Apple and Google, with Meta passing those costs on to users rather than absorbing them.
Starting in November 2023, users will have access to the subscription service. However, Meta has not specified an exact launch date. It will be available in the following countries;
According to Meta’s statement, they firmly believe in an ad-supported internet, providing personalized products and services to users, regardless of whether they subscribe to the ad-free plan or not.
