November 2, 2023
- Meta announces ads-free Instagram and Facebook in Europe for users on October 30. It will offer people in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland the choice to pay a monthly subscription to these platforms.
- Alternatively, they can keep using these services without charge and continue to see relevant advertisements.
To comply with the changing European regulations, Meta is introducing a new subscription option for people residing in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. They will provide users with the option to either subscribe to avoid viewing advertisements or to keep enjoying these customized services at no cost. They have assured Europeans that a person’s information won’t be used for advertisements while they are subscribers.
People in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland can subscribe to a paid tier of Facebook and Instagram that removes ads. The subscription costs €9.99/month on the web or €12.99/month on iOS and Android. It covers all linked Facebook and Instagram accounts in a user’s Accounts Center. Starting March 1, 2024, there will be an additional fee of €6/month on the web or €8/month on iOS and Android for each additional account linked to a user’s Accounts Center.
The Reason Behind- “Meta Announces Ads-free Instagram And Facebook”
Meta believes in ad-supported content that recommends products or services to a user regardless of his/her economic status. They claim that they have also helped support the European economy as it has helped small businesses grow and expand their market via potential customers. Know that they still support ads on the internet, even with their new subscription service in Europe. Meta respects the changing rules in Europe and promises to follow them.
In August, they said they would start using the “Consent” legal basis for processing data from users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland for advertising on their platforms. They did this to follow new rules in the region, mainly because of how the EU’s Irish Data Protection Commission is looking at the General Data Protection Regulation after a recent court ruling and to get ready for the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Meta’s ad-free subscription option complies with European regulations, offering users a choice while ensuring service to all in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. The Court of Justice of the European Union acknowledged that this subscription model is a valid form of consent for an ad-supported service.
It has assured the users that their experience won’t change even if they continue utilizing their items for free. Users still have control over the ads they see and the data used for those ads, including activity data from ad partners, thanks to features like Ad Preferences. Additionally, there are tools to help them manage their ad experience and explain why they encounter specific ads.
In Europe, advertisers can continue running personalized ads, ensuring access for European users. However, they must be more privacy-conscious, respecting users’ preferences. Meta is developing tools to balance user privacy and advertising value, emphasizing privacy protection. Its commitment to user privacy while enabling business outreach is a positive step. The ad-free subscription targets individuals 18 and older, with plans for a responsible ad experience for teenagers, showcasing Meta’s dedication to teenage privacy in compliance with evolving regulations.
Conclusion
The news “ads-free Instagram and Facebook in Europe” is a sign that the company is serious about complying with privacy regulations in the region. It is also a sign that Meta is looking for new ways to generate revenue from its European users. Overall, the announcement is a positive development for users who value their privacy and are willing to pay to remove ads from their social media experience.
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