Meta Considering Paid Version of Facebook & Instagram

The subscription plan, only for European Union users, will allow users to navigate ad-free.

For nearly 20 years, Meta’s core business has centered on offering free social networking services to users and selling advertising to companies wanting to reach that audience.

Now, things could change, at least in Europe.

Meta is considering a paid version of Facebook and Instagram in the European Union, with no advertising for users, as a response to regulatory scrutiny and different government policies.

While Meta’s representatives declined to comment, The New York Times delivered the news citing three anonymous sources, saying the resolution may help Meta avoid privacy concerns and other scrutiny from E.U. regulators by giving users an alternative to the company’s ad-based services, which rely on analyzing people’s data.

The sources said those who pay for Facebook and Instagram subscriptions would not see ads in the apps. Still, Meta would continue to offer free versions of Facebook and Instagram with ads in the European Union. It is unclear how much the paid versions of the apps would cost or when the company might roll them out.

Source: The New York Times