Meta announces paid subscriptions for both Instagram and Facebook in the UK
It’s a response to new “consent or pay” guidance around personalized advertising.
Meta has announced a new subscription service for users in the UK, offering an ad-free experience on both Facebook and Instagram for a monthly fee. This move is a direct response to a "consent or pay" guidance from the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which aims to give users more control over their personal data and targeted advertising.
What is the "Consent or Pay" Model?
This model gives users a clear choice:
Continue using the platforms for free, with personalized ads.
Pay a monthly subscription fee to use the services without any ads.
This approach is intended to ensure that user consent for data collection and ad targeting is freely given, rather than being a non-negotiable part of the terms and conditions.
Subscription Details
Pricing:
£2.99 per month for web access.
£3.99 per month for iOS and Android mobile apps, with the higher price covering app store fees from Apple and Google.
Coverage: A single subscription covers both your Facebook and Instagram accounts if they are linked via the Meta Accounts Center.
Additional Accounts: Each additional account linked to a user's Accounts Center will incur a reduced fee of £2 per month on the web or £3 on mobile.
Availability: The option will be rolled out to UK users aged 18 and over in the coming weeks.
Why This is Happening
The decision follows extensive engagement with the ICO, which has been pushing for greater user transparency and choice regarding data usage. The UK's approach has been praised by Meta as being "constructive," contrasting it with the ongoing regulatory challenges it faces in the European Union, where a similar ad-free subscription model has been scrutinized for allegedly not complying with stricter regulations.
For most users, the platforms will remain free and ad-supported, as this model has been Meta's primary source of revenue for years. However, this change signifies a major shift in how the company navigates the complex landscape of global data privacy regulations, offering a new path for users who prioritize an ad-free experience.
