Meta's ad-free Facebook and Instagram subscription launches in November
Facebook and Instagram users from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland may subscribe to an ad-free experience from November 2023 on. Read on to find out why it is important to subscribe on the Web and not on mobile devices.
The monthly subscription fee allows users to use Facebook and Instagram without any ads. Additionally, information from subscribed users will not be used for ads, according to Meta.
Starting in November 2023, users from the aforementioned regions may subscribe for 9.99 EUR or 12.99 EUR per month to use Facebook and Instagram ad-free. Users who subscribe to the ad-free experience on the Web pay €9.99 per month, while users who subscribe on Android or iOS €12.99. Meta explains the price difference with the extra fees that Google and Apple charge whenever users make payments on the mobile platforms Android or iOS.
Meta notes that all linked Facebook and Instagram accounts in a user's Accounts Center benefit from the subscription initially. However, starting March 1, 2024, Meta will charge an additional fee of €6 or €8 per month for additional accounts. The price difference depends on whether the payment is made on the Web or on the mobile device.
Meta explains that it is introducing the ad-free subscription plan to comply with regulations in Europe.
Users from Europe who don't subscribe will continue to see advertisement on Meta's platforms.
Meta writes: "In November, we will be offering people who use Facebook or Instagram and reside in these regions the choice to continue using these personalised services for free with ads, or subscribe to stop seeing ads. While people are subscribed, their information will not be used for ads. "
Facebook and Instagram users may manage Ad Preferences to "view, add and remove preferences" that Meta created based on a user's personal information. Sources include a user's profile or actions on Facebook and Instagram.
Closing Words
Facebook and Instagram users from the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland may pay €9.99 or more per month for an ad-free experience from November onward. Users who want to subscribe may want to do so using a desktop system and a regular web browser, as it is €3 cheaper per month.
Users from other regions can't subscribe to an ad-free experience, as Meta is not launching it for users from other regions.
This “pay or play” offer by Meta does not meet GDPR’s requirements; that would have to include a “Pay for the difference (reduction) in value that Meta gets from tracking+profiling enabled ads in return for still-ads but which are NOT-targeted”. This will go directly back to DPA complaint and the courts. (Thank you, Max).
Pay with money or pay by enduring ads, either way you get tracked. As I see it should I be paid to be tracked that I’d refuse it, so looks like I’m at the antipodes of ever using any of Meta’s services.
By the way, GAFAM should shift to GAMAM given Facebook’s and Instagram’s mother company is Meta.
We could also consider something like GAFXAM to include X alias Twitter.
Personally I avoid all of GAFXAM with the exception of YouTube accessed via a front-end.
Theyre still getting datamined across the web and not even activity on fb, which was the real issue.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
If Facebook offered to pay *me* to use any of their services, I would still tell them to f*ck off.
Secondly, you could almost subscribe to Xbox Gamepass Ultimate for both console and PC and stream on phone for that price. It would be time better spent.
Looking at the bright side, hopefully Twitter and Facebook will both follow Myspace.
Extortion is legal now?