Meta introduced its Facebook and Instagram paid subscription service in late October 2023. This service is available only in European Union countries and results from the obligation to comply with EU regulations regarding the personalization of advertising content.
The most important, and at the same time the only important benefit from the user’s point of view, related to purchasing this subscription, is the complete lack of advertising on Meta’s websites. In November, we learned the prices of the Polish subscription and it must be admitted that they were amazing. The company asked for PLN 60 per month for access to paid Facebook. If we also wanted to add an additional account, the amount would increase by another PLN 37 per month.
Meta lowers the price of paid Facebook. A desperate move?
Now it turns out that Meta has – quietly – lowered the price of a paid Facebook subscription. When we want to purchase the service via the website, we are informed that it costs “only” PLN 35 per month.
Subscribe to use your Facebook account without ads, from PLN 35.00/month (including applicable taxes). Your information will not be used for advertising
– Meta informs. If we would like to add a second account (e.g. on Instagram), this option costs another PLN 21 per month.
Paid Facebook photo: Facebook
This decision was taken as a result of negotiations with the European Union. Timothy Lamb, Meta’s antitrust lawyer, said Tuesday that the company had offered to lower the price – ensuring subscribers would be advertising-free.
This is by far the lowest any reasonable person should pay for services of this quality
–
Importantly, lower prices for paid Facebook apply if you purchase the service via the website. However, if we purchase a subscription through the Apple App Store or Google Play, we still have to take into account additional fees.
Meta explains why Facebook and Instagram became paid. It’s about the regulations
In October last year, Meta explained the reasons for introducing paid subscriptions to Facebook and Instagram. This decision resulted from an attempt to adapt to the EU GDPR regulations.
To comply with changing European regulations, we are introducing a new subscription option in the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland. In November, we’ll offer people who use Facebook or Instagram and live in these regions the option to continue using these personalized ad-supported services for free or subscribe to stop seeing ads. As long as users subscribe, their data will not be used in advertising
– the company explained in a statement.
Of course, Meta still offers free access to Facebook and Instagram, as long as we agree to the company serving us personalized advertising content.
Source: Gazeta
Mabel is a talented author and journalist with a passion for all things technology. As an experienced writer for the 247 News Agency, she has established a reputation for her in-depth reporting and expert analysis on the latest developments in the tech industry.
