Meta’s Monthly Fee to Remove Instagram and Facebook Ads Sparks User Backlash

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has recently proposed a plan to offer ad-free versions of its popular social media platforms to users in Europe for a monthly fee. The move is seen as a way to comply with the stricter privacy regulations in the European Union, which prohibit the use of personal data for targeted advertising without user consent. However, the plan has also sparked a backlash from users who are unhappy with the idea of paying for a service that was previously free and supported by ads.

Why Meta wants to charge users for ad-free Instagram and Facebook

Meta’s proposal comes after the company was fined 390 million euros by the EU for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which requires companies to obtain explicit and informed consent from users before collecting and processing their personal data. Meta was accused of using data from its various services, such as WhatsApp and Oculus, to show personalized ads on Facebook and Instagram without proper consent.

Meta is also facing increased scrutiny under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to curb the dominance of large online platforms and promote fair competition in the digital sector. The DMA designates Meta as a “gatekeeper”, meaning that it has to abide by certain rules and obligations, such as allowing users to opt out of data sharing across its services and ensuring interoperability with other platforms.

To avoid further fines and regulatory pressure, Meta is considering offering users in Europe an option to use Instagram and Facebook without ads for a monthly fee. According to The Wall Street Journal, Meta has shared this idea with privacy regulators in Ireland, digital competition authorities in Brussels, and EU privacy watchdogs. The company hopes to get their feedback and approval before rolling out the plan in the coming months.

How much would users have to pay for ad-free Instagram and Facebook

According to the report, Meta is contemplating a subscription fee of approximately 10 euros (around $10.5) per month for users who wish to access Facebook or Instagram without ads on desktop devices. Users with additional accounts would have to pay an extra 6 euros (around $6.3) per account. For mobile device users, the subscription price would increase to around 13 euros (around $13.6) per month, to account for the commissions charged by Apple’s and Google’s app stores on iOS and Android devices, respectively.

The subscription fee would be optional, meaning that users who do not want to pay could still use Instagram and Facebook for free, but they would have to agree to see personalized ads based on their data. Users who do not want to pay or share their data could also choose to deactivate their accounts or switch to alternative platforms.

How users are reacting to Meta’s plan?

Meta’s plan to charge users for ad-free Instagram and Facebook has met with mixed reactions from users and experts. Some users have expressed their willingness to pay for a better user experience without intrusive ads, while others have criticized Meta for trying to monetize its users’ privacy and data. Some users have also questioned the value of paying for ad-free Instagram and Facebook, given that there are other ways to block ads, such as using ad blockers or browser extensions.

Some experts have also raised concerns about the potential impact of Meta’s plan on the digital ecosystem and society. They argue that charging users for ad-free Instagram and Facebook could create a digital divide between those who can afford to pay and those who cannot, leading to unequal access to information and opportunities. They also warn that Meta’s plan could undermine the viability of online advertising, which supports many free and independent online services and content creators.

Meta has not yet confirmed or announced its plan publicly, but it is likely that it will face more challenges and opposition from regulators, competitors, and users before it can implement it. Whether Meta’s plan will succeed or fail remains to be seen, but it is clear that it reflects the changing dynamics of the online world, where privacy, competition, and innovation are at stake.