Meta Platforms will soon give UK users the option to subscribe to Facebook and Instagram to avoid seeing ads, as part of a response to UK regulatory guidance, the company announced on Friday.
The subscription will cost £2.99 per month when purchased via web browsers or £3.99 per month through iOS and Android devices, with the price difference reflecting fees charged by Apple and Google. For each additional account in a user’s Meta Accounts Center, an extra fee of £2 per month on web or £3 per month on mobile will apply.
Meta emphasized that users who choose not to subscribe can continue using Facebook and Instagram for free with personalized ads, maintaining access to existing ad control tools like Ad Preferences.
The company is implementing this change following "extensive engagement" with the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Meta noted that subscribers’ personal data will not be used to show them ads.
In its announcement, Meta contrasted the UK’s "pro-growth and pro-innovation regulatory environment" with the European Union, where the company claims regulators are "overreaching" by requiring a less personalized ads experience.
Meta highlighted the economic impact of its advertising technologies in the UK, stating they were linked to £65 billion in economic activity and over 357,000 jobs in 2024 alone. The company also cited that every pound spent on Meta ads drives an average of £3.82 in revenues for UK businesses.
The new subscription option will be rolled out to UK users aged 18 and over in the coming weeks.
Source :
https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/instagram-and-facebook-to-offer-adfree-subscription-option-for-uk-users-4257203
