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Meta to Offer Paid Ad‑Free Facebook and Instagram in the UK Starting at £2.99

The move follows UK data regulator guidance, highlighting a different compliance path from the EU’s stricter stance.

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People walk behind a logo of Meta Platforms company, during a conference in Mumbai, India, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
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Overview

  • UK users aged 18 and over will be notified in the coming weeks about a choice to subscribe or keep using the services with personalised ads, with initial prompts dismissible.
  • Pricing is £2.99 per month on the web and £3.99 on iOS and Android, with Meta attributing the higher mobile price to app‑store fees from Apple and Google.
  • Subscribers will not see ads and their personal data will not be used for advertising, while non‑subscribers continue with free, personalised ads and existing ad controls such as Ad Preferences.
  • A subscription covers accounts linked in Meta’s Accounts Center, with additional accounts charged £2 per month on the web or £3 per month on mobile.
  • The ICO welcomed the approach and will monitor the rollout, as Meta’s EU model previously drew a €200 million fine and demands for a genuinely free, less‑personalised ads option.