Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Monday that it will offer a new option for its European users to enjoy its social media platforms without seeing any Ads.
The EU regulations threaten to curb Meta’s ability to personalize ads for users without their consent and hurt its major revenue source.
The Ad- free subscription plan, which will be available starting next month, is a response to the growing regulatory scrutiny and public backlash that Meta and other tech giants are facing over their data collection and advertising practices. Meta was fined 390 million euros earlier this year by Ireland’s Data Privacy Commissioner, and was told it cannot use the so-called “contract” as a legal basis to send users ads based on their online activity.
The Subscription fee is 9.99 euros ( $10.58 ) a month for web users and 12.99 euros a month for IOS and Android users. Users who opt for the plan will also get access to some exclusive features, such as dark mode, custom themes, and enhanced privacy settings.
Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the ad-free plan is part of Meta’s vision to create a more personalised and immersive online experience for its users. “We believe that people should have more choice and control over how they interact with our products and services,” he said in a statement. “With the ad-free plan, we are giving our users the option to enjoy Facebook and Instagram without any interruptions or distractions from ads.”
