Meta announced a new option for users who want to enjoy its social media platforms without seeing any ads. Starting from November 1, 2023, users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland can pay a monthly fee to access Facebook and Instagram without any interruptions from sponsored posts or banners.
The ad-free subscription will cost €9.99 per month for web users and €12.99 per month for iOS and Android users. This fee will cover all linked Facebook and Instagram accounts owned by a single user until March 1, 2024. After that date, users who want to keep their ad-free experience on each additional linked account will have to pay an extra €6 per month on the web and €8 per month on mobile devices.
Meta said that the ad-free subscription is a response to user feedback and European regulations on data and privacy. The company moved to the “Consent” legal basis for ads data processing, following a CJEU ruling and anticipating the DMA. The subscription option balances regulatory requirements and user choice while supporting an ad-supported internet. Meta added that it will continue to offer the ad-supported option with tools and settings to control ads experience.
“The option for people to purchase a subscription for no ads balances the requirements of European regulators while giving users choice and allowing Meta to continue serving all people in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland,” Meta said in its press release. “In its ruling, the CJEU expressly recognized that a subscription model, like the one we are announcing, is a valid form of consent for an ads funded service.”
The ad-free subscription is currently only available in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland, where Meta faces stricter regulations on data protection and privacy than in other regions. Users in those regions who are interested in trying out the ad-free subscription can sign up for it through their Facebook or Instagram settings.
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