Particle.news
Download on the App Store
13 ARTICLES
·
40m ago

Meta to Launch Ad-Free Facebook and Instagram Option for UK Users

Regulatory pressure from the UK data watchdog prompted the offer after a court-backed challenge to Facebook’s ad profiling.

People walk behind a logo of Meta Platforms company, during a conference in Mumbai, India, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
Image
Image
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of Meta. The company’s social media made the move after pressure from the UK’s data watchdog

Overview

  • Meta will begin notifying UK users aged 18 and over in the coming weeks, with an initial dismissible prompt offering a choice to subscribe or continue with personalised ads.
  • Pricing is set at £2.99 per month on the web and £3.99 on iOS or Android for the first account, with each additional linked account costing £2 on the web or £3 on mobile.
  • A subscription decision applies across all Facebook and Instagram accounts in a user’s Meta Accounts Center.
  • Subscribers will not see ads and their personal data will not be used to show them ads, while non-subscribers will continue to see personalised ads with access to existing ad controls.
  • The ICO welcomed the move and will monitor the rollout, as Meta contrasts the UK’s approach with stricter EU requirements and higher prior EU price points.