Facebook and Instagram launch an ad-free subscription at €9.99 per month

This is a big change for Facebook And Instagram. The two social networks, each owned by the Meta group, have just announced a paid subscription plan in Europe.

“It’s free and it always will be“. This is what Facebook still wrote on its home page until 2019. From now on, the slogan should probably display a small asterisk. Meta announced on October 30, 2023 that a paid version of Instagram and Facebook would now arrive in Europe, after long delays. The latter will cost €9.99 per month and will allow you to consult the two networks without any advertising disrupting the experience.

A subscription to please the EU

The change will, a priori, only take place in Europe since this strategic change on the part of Facebook is less about the desire to change its economic model than about complying with European legislation. As the company announces, “to comply with evolving European regulations, we are introducing a new subscription option in the EU, […] While people are subscribed, their information will not be used for advertisements.»

The Facebook and Instagram subscription formula will arrive from November according to Meta. The subscription will therefore cost €9.99 per month or €12.99 depending on whether you subscribe via the web or via the giant’s applications (which must pay part of the amount to the Apple and Google App Stores, hence the extra cost).

€9.99 per month… at the start

Obviously, subscribing to Facebook and Instagram will not be compulsory. It will still be possible to use the platforms without paying if you agree to see ads in your feed. Meta just gives those who don’t want to see ads the opportunity to get rid of them.

If Meta also specifies that the personal information of Internet users will not be used for targeted advertising “while people are subscribed“, the announcement does not clearly state that no information will be harvested strictly speaking though. But it’s a safe bet that Facebook will not play with words since that would risk angering the European Union.

Until March 1, 2024, the subscription will cover all accounts linked to a profile, but, from this date, each additional profile linked to an account will cost between €6 and €8 additional per month. This additional cost will mainly concern professionals who manage several accounts and pages at the same time, individuals will be able to continue to benefit from the price of €9.99 which will cover both Facebook and Instagram accounts.

This offer is to be distinguished from “Meta Verified”, the other paid subscription made in Facebook, but which only serves to display a certification checkmark on your profile.

A question of trust

In her announcement post, Meta explains at length that she continues to believe in “an internet funded by advertising, which gives people access to personalized products and services regardless of their economic status.» No doubt the company is not happy to have to split its economic model in two, but it has “committed to respecting […] the spirit and objective of European regulations.»

It remains to be seen whether Internet users will have enough confidence in the company to pay for its services.

Source : Meta newsroom