Facebook and Instagram users have blasted the launch of a new paid-for service to remove adverts from the two platforms.
Mark Zuckerberg‘s Meta, the parent company which owns the two social media sites, said it was launching the subscription option to comply with EU regulations.
The change will force millions of users to decide whether they want to face personalised adverts, or fork out the fee for an ad-free offering.
But users attacked the idea, vowing to delete their accounts rather than pay for the privilege of no ads.
The monthly subscription plans will cost €9.99 (£8.72) for web users, while iOS and Android users will have to shell out €12.99 (£11.35) a month. They will not be available in the UK.
Not happy: Facebook and Instagram users have blasted the launch of a new paid-for service to enjoy an ad-free experience on the two platforms
Users attacked the idea, vowing to delete their accounts rather than pay for the privilege of no ads
‘Who’s gonna pay for that?’ one social media user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), while another said simply ‘Bye’.
‘Seriously wondering who’ll pay €10 a month just to use a social media platform, let alone Facebook,’ another X user wrote.
One account going by the name of ‘SoulReaver’ added: ‘Lol, I would like to see a person that is gonna be paying for this’, while another added: ‘I’m still not paying for it’.
Others referenced Elon Musk’s recent decision to introduce a subscription service on X, originally called Twitter Blue but now renamed as X Premium.
‘This Zuckerberg guy is a copycat. Just copying Elon’s moves. Please be a bit creative,’ said one user.
Another added: ‘€9.99 just for ad removal is scam. While I am not fan of Blue, at least it gives a lot of benefits that makes it worth 8 dollars imo.’
Earlier this year, Meta was fined €390million (£340million) for breaking EU data rules around adverts.
It was told it could not ‘force consent’ by saying consumers must accept how their data is used or leave the platforms.
A number of users had already threatened to delete their accounts when the subscription model was first rumoured. Some called it just ‘another way to make money’
Meta subsequently said it intended to ask users in the EU for their consent before allowing businesses to target advertising in order to address a number of evolving regulatory requirements in the region.
Offering a choice between a free, ad-supported plan and an ad-free paid subscription might lead to users opting for the former, helping Meta comply with the regulations without affecting its ad business, which is a major revenue source for the company.
Meta said its new subscription was aimed at addressing EU concerns rather than making money.
‘We believe in an ad-supported internet, which gives people access to personalised products and services regardless of their economic status,’ the company said in a blog post.
The monthly subscription plans will cost €9.99 (£8.72) for web users, while iOS and Android users will have to shell out €12.99 (£11.35) a month. However, many users said they would not pay for it
‘The option for people to purchase a subscription for no ads balances the requirements of European regulators while giving users choice and allowing Meta to continue serving all people in the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
‘We respect the spirit and purpose of these evolving European regulations, and are committed to complying with them.’
Under the plan, Meta will charge €9.99 (£8.72) a month on a desktop for a Facebook or Instagram account.
There will be an extra charge of €6 (£5.24) for each additional linked account.
Meanwhile, on mobile devices, the price for a single account jumps to €12.99 (£11.35).
This is because Meta will have to factor in commissions charged by Apple’s and Google’s app stores.
According to Meta, there are currently 258 million monthly Facebook users in the EU, while 257 million users take to Instagram every month.
Under the plan, Meta will charge €9.99 (£8.72) a month on a desktop for a Facebook or Instagram account. On mobile devices, the price for a single account jumps to €12.99 (£11.35)
Others referenced Elon Musk’s recent decision to introduce a subscription service on X, originally called Twitter Blue but now renamed as X Premium. ‘This Zuckerberg guy is a copycat. Just copying Elon’s moves. Please be a bit creative,’ said one user
