Would you pay $14 for ad-free Instagram and Facebook? It may be a possibility in the near future.
We've known since early September that Meta is considering a paid, ad-free version of its apps for users in the European Union in response to some vocal privacy concerns and other uneasiness from EU regulators.
But now we're getting our first idea of exactly how much that ad-free experience would cost.
According to a Tuesday report from The Wall Street Journal, Meta is proposing an ad-free desktop experience for Facebook or Instagram that will set users back about €10 ($10 USD) as well as another €6 ($6 USD), give or take some change, for each additional linked account. On mobile, Meta is reportedly proposing a monthly €13 ($14 USD) fee because app stores charge additional commissions. The plans are called SNAs, or Subscription No Ads, and have allegedly been shared with EU's privacy regulators. However, nothing is set in stone at the moment. They still need to get some feedback and work through some kinks before anything is officially rolled out.
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Meta did not confirm these premium tiers to Mashable, but a spokesperson for the social media tech giant said that while "Meta believes in the value of free services which are supported by personalized ads, the company is [exploring] options to ensure we comply with evolving regulatory requirements."
According to the Wall Street Journal, users will still have the option to use a free version of Instagram and Facebook, but they'll have to endure ads. Paid subscribers, however, can use ad-free iterations of Instagram and Facebook, freeing themselves from the invasive tracking required to roll out personalized ads.
This is just one example of the many battles Meta has faced with EU regulators. Most of the fights are a result of the EU adapting Europe's General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which is one of the most valuable pieces of legislation to protect people's online privacy and data.
We don't know when Meta will actually implement a paid version of its apps for an ad-free experience — or if it will at all. But between the privacy concerns and the irksome onslaught of advertisements, I could see the option becoming pretty popular.
Christianna Silva is a senior culture reporter covering social platforms and the creator economy, with a focus on the intersection of social media, politics, and the economic systems that govern us. Since joining Mashable in 2021, they have reported extensively on meme creators, content moderation, and the nature of online creation under capitalism.
Before joining Mashable, they worked as an editor at NPR and MTV News, a reporter at Teen Vogue and VICE News, and as a stablehand at a mini-horse farm. You can follow her on Bluesky @christiannaj.bsky.social and Instagram @christianna_j.
