Meta Platforms will soon offer users in the UK the option to sign up for a paid subscription to Facebook and Instagram that will completely remove ads from the platforms. The move has been approved by the UK’s privacy regulator and highlights the divergence in regulatory approaches between the UK and the EU after Brexit, Bloomberg reports.
In the coming weeks, users aged 18 and over will be offered a choice:
- Ad-free paid subscription: The cost will be £2.99 per month for the web version of Facebook or Instagram, and £3.99 for the iOS or Android apps. The higher price for mobile devices is due to fees charged by Apple and Google in their app stores.
- Free use with ads: Users will still be able to use the services for free, as before, by agreeing to the display of personalized ads.
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office has positively assessed the new model.