Facebook and Instagram Offer Ad-Free Option

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is rolling out a new subscription service for UK users. This service will allow subscribers to use these popular social media platforms without seeing any advertisements. The subscription fee starts at £2.99 per month for web users, with a slightly higher cost of £3.99 for those using iOS or Android apps.

The company plans to notify users about this new option in the coming weeks. This move comes after the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) provided guidance on ad-free subscriptions earlier this year. The ICO has welcomed Meta's decision, viewing it as a significant shift in the company's approach to personalized advertising.

Meta emphasizes that this new model gives users a clear choice regarding how their data is used for advertising purposes. However, unlike in the EU, UK users won't have the option to see 'less personalized' ads without paying. The company states that its UK pricing is among the lowest in the market for such services.