Facebook and Instagram users will now have the option to pay a monthly fee to stop seeing ads on the platforms. These changes have been announced this week and Meta says they are available for users in select parts of the world from November onwards.
These monthly subscription charges for Facebook and Instagram users are different if they sign up on the web and slightly higher for doing it via the Android and iOS, just like Elon Musk decided to price for its X platform. Meta taking the subscription route in Europe is primarily because of the new regulations in the region, which is forcing companies like Meta to stop serving ads to its users.
If users in Europe are happy to see ads on the Facebook and Instagram feed, they can continue using the free version of these apps. However, if you are annoyed about ads on these platforms, Meta will charge you EUR 9.99 per month and EUR 12.99 per month on web and Android/iOS, respectively.
Meta is clearly stating the reason for the price difference, and it has to do with Google and Apple’s app store policies. “As is the case for many online subscriptions, the iOS and Android pricing take into account the fees that Apple and Google charge through respective purchasing policies," Meta mentioned in this post.
The new EU rules are applicable for people in the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland where companies like Meta have been restricted from collecting user’s data for advertising purposes. The company, in its defence, says that it believes in an ad-supported internet which helps small businesses reach customers and allow them to grow.
So what happens to those using Facebook and Instagram for free via-a-vis to those paying for these apps, do they get a different experience? Meta assures that nothing changes for those using its products for free, in this case, Facebook and Instagram in these countries. Interestingly, the subscription plans are available for users above 18 years only. Musk has already started charging for X which now has different plans if people want to stop seeing ads and other benefits.
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