• Source:REUTERS
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Facebook, Instagram Subscription Fee: Social media giant Meta has announced that it will offer paid subscription plans in Europe for users of Instagram and Facebook to comply with European Union rules. The announcement comes weeks after speculations that the Mark Zuckerberg-led company may introduce paid tiers with exclusive benefits.

These plans will cost 9.99 Euros per month (about Rs 885) on the web and 12.99 Euros per month (around Rs 1,145) for smartphones (Android and iOS). They will be available in Switzerland, the EU and the European Economic Area. According to Meta, these ad-free plans will be available for 18 years of age (or above) users from November.

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The EU rules aim to curb Meta's capacity for ad personalisation without consent, which can also impact its revenue share. Meta apps have undergone undergone antitrust scrutiny in the EU.

Instagram, Facebook Subscription Plan: These paid plans will be available in Switzerland, EU and European Economic Area. (Image:Unsplash)

"The option for people to purchase a subscription for no ads balances the requirements of European regulators while giving users choice and allowing Meta to continue serving all people in the EU, EEA and Switzerland. In its ruling, the CJEU [Court of Justice of the European Union] expressly recognised that a subscription model...is a valid form of consent for an ads-funded service," Meta said in a blog post.

As for the increased pricing on smartphones, Meta explains it is inclusive of the additional fee paid to Google and Apple based on their policies. All linked accounts in the user's Accounts Center shall enjoy the benefits of the subscription until March 1, 2024. Post this date, an additional fee of 6 Euros (around Rs 530) on the web and 8 Euros (about Rs 705) on smartphones will apply for every extra account in the Account Center per month.

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Will Instagram and Facebook Subscription Price Apply To India?

At the time of filing, Meta has not issued any official statement about whether these plans will arrive in India or not. Hence, India seems to be on the safe harbour for some time.