Meta is reportedly working on a new plan to allow European users to remove ads on Facebook and Instagram by paying $14 a month. As WSJ reported, this plan lets Meta settle some of its antitrust cases in the continent.
Advertising is currently the primary revenue source for social platforms. While some platforms have switched to subscription-based plans in recent years and offer extra perks at a monthly fee, advertising remains the platforms’ most critical revenue maker. However, If ads on Meta platforms are annoying, the company might allow you to get rid of them by paying a monthly fee.
European users might be able to access ad-free Facebook and Instagram by paying $14 a month
Meta has faced numerous backlash in the EU over collecting users’ data and showing personalized ads to them without consent. The company is considering letting users access ad-free Facebook and Instagram after paying $14 a month to settle this.
The plan is dubbed “SNA” and gives Meta users in the EU two options: Continue to access Instagram and Facebook free of charge but agree to personalized ads or pay to access the platforms without any ads.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly shared the idea with privacy regulators in Ireland and digital competition regulators in Brussels in September. While accessing a social platform with annoying ads is enjoyable, Meta still needs to reassure EU members that it doesn’t collect user’s data after they paid for an ad-free subscription.
If you buy an SNA plan on a desktop, you must pay around $10 a month. Meta could also charge you $6 for each additional linked account. However, buying an SNA plan on mobile costs around $14 due to Apple and Google commissions for in-app payments.
Meta and X (formerly Twitter) follow the same path to keep making money from their users. Both offer extra perks and features at a monthly fee. Users who apply for Meta Verified should also pay another $14.99/month (or $11.99/month on desktop) to get a verified badge on Instagram and Facebook. A Twitter Blue (now called X Premium) tier costs only $8/month.