Meta launches UK ad-free Facebook and Instagram option at 2.99/month

Meta announced on September 26 that Facebook and Instagram users in the United Kingdom will be offered ad free subscriptions in the coming weeks, giving adults the choice to pay to remove personalised advertisements or continue using the services for free with ads. The company said the subscription will cost 2.99 per month on the web and 3.99 per month when purchased through iOS or Android apps, with the higher mobile price reflecting app store transaction fees. Additional accounts added to a user's Meta Accounts Centre will cost 2 per month on the web or 3 per month on mobile.

Meta said the change follows recent UK regulatory guidance and extensive engagement with the Information Commissioner's Office. The company described the subscription as a way to let people choose whether their personal data is used to deliver personalised ads. Meta added that if a person subscribes, their personal data will not be used to show them advertisements and the subscription will apply to all Facebook and Instagram accounts that person has added to their Accounts Centre, provided each account is covered by a paid subscription.

The Information Commissioner's Office welcomed the move, saying it...