Goal has announced a new paid version of Facebook and instagram that will allow you to browse both social networks without seeing ads. The subscription will be available starting in November for all users 18 years of age and older, but will not be offered globally.
The alternative without Facebook and Instagram ads It will only arrive in the countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland. This is due to the growing regulatory pressure that Meta faces in Europe for the collection and use of its users’ data to display personalized advertising.
The launch of a paid version of social networks is not surprising. Mark Zuckerberg’s proposal was leaked earlier this month, after it was reported to the European Commission and Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC). However, it was unknown whether it was intended to be implemented this year or in 2024.
With the officialization of the plan, European users now know how much they will have to pay to enjoy an ad-free experience on Instagram or Facebook, and what benefits it will bring to your privacy.
Those who subscribe to Facebook and Instagram without ads will have to pay 9.99 euros per month. This price will apply as long as they use a desktop web browser. If they choose to do it from iOS/iPadOS or Android, they will have to pay 12.99 euros monthly.
As with X Premium —formerly known as Twitter Blue—, the second option is more expensive because it includes the 30% commission that Apple and Google take for purchases in-app which are carried out through the App Store and the Play Store, respectively.
If you want to use Facebook and Instagram without ads, prepare your wallet
In principle, the ad-free subscription will apply to all Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to the same user. However, this will not be the case forever. From March 1, 2024, Meta will charge 6 euros more for each additional profile that a person adds to their Account Center. The extra amount will be 8 euros per month for subscribers from iOS and Android.
Of course, users, both new and existing, They will be able to continue using Facebook and Instagram for free. But by doing so, they will be giving their consent for Zuckerberg’s people to collect their information and use it to show them personalized advertisements. However, the data of those who subscribe will not be collected for marketing purposes.
According to Meta, offering an ad-free subscription to Facebook and Instagram will allow it to find a balance between its current business model and the requirements of European regulators. Additionally, the Menlo Park company claims that the new payment model is a valid method of consent for an ad-supported service.
“We believe in an Internet supported by advertising and that gives people access to personalized products and services, regardless of their economic situation. It also allows small businesses to reach potential customers, grow their businesses and create new markets, driving growth of the European economy. And like other companies, we will continue to advocate for an ad-supported Internet, including with our new subscription offering in the EU, EEA and Switzerland. But we respect the spirit and purpose of these evolving European regulations and we are committed to fulfilling them.
Meta, about its new Facebook and Instagram plan without ads
Those who are not willing to pay to access an ad-free version of Facebook and Instagram will not experience changes in their user experience. This means that will continue to see targeted advertisements, according to the data collected by the apps during their use. Still, Californians promise to continue providing tools to control—to some extent, at least—the content of ads.
“We will continue to invest to create new tools that preserve the value that both people and companies obtain from personalized advertising, while allowing users to control their advertising experience on our platforms,” they explained.