In accordance with the constantly changing legislation in Europe, Meta announced on Monday that it is ruling out a new subscription option across the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. Residents in the territories who use Facebook or Instagram will have the option to continue using these customized services for free with advertisements or subscribe to avoid seeing advertisements in November, according to the company. Users’ personal data won’t be used for advertisements while they are subscribers. It is anticipated that the ad-free membership, which costs €9.99/month on the web or €12.99/month on iOS and Android, will go on sale starting next month.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the company’s plan earlier this month for a subscription version of its service. Every Facebook and Instagram account linked in the user account center will be covered by the subscription, no matter where it is purchased. However, as of March 1, 2024, each additional item listed in the Account Management Center will incur an additional fee of €6 per month for web users and €8 per month for iOS and Android users. For those who would rather not pay, Meta says it will keep providing free access to goods. Ad preference tools will continue to be available, and the business promises the experience for customers who do not pay will not alter.
It balances the demands of European authorities, gives customers a choice, and enables Meta to keep providing services to all residents of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. Meta is introducing a subscription plan, which is a legitimate form of consent for an ad-funded service, as the CJEU explicitly acknowledged in its opinion. In light of the constantly changing legislative environment, the membership service for no advertisements will remain open to anyone 18 years of age and older, and it will keep researching ways to provide teenagers with a responsible and helpful ad experience.
Meta affirms its support for the Internet ad-supported economy and states that it is dedicated to protecting individuals’ privacy and security in accordance with its policies and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the EU, regardless of whether users opt to use its products for free with advertisements or subscribe to not see them.
