Is Meta Following Elon's Lead With Subscription Plans?

Meta might be taking a page out of X's playbook by offering users a way to skip those pesky ads on Facebook and Instagram.

Wait, before you scream, "I'm not paying for Facebook," or "I'm not paying for Instagram," let us put it in perspective for you.


Meta has begun offering a subscription plan for Facebook and Instagram that lets users partake in these social media platforms without seeing ads, but it's only for European users.

There's no evidence that this model will become standard practice in all countries. Right now, it's all about the European Union (EU) putting a plug in Meta's ability to make ads personal for users without their consent. Because this will impact Meta's revenue source, the company introduced the subscription plan to combat it.

And it's not cheap. The monthly plans will cost €9.99 euros ($10.58) for web users, and if you want to use Meta's social media platforms for iOS and Android, get ready to dish out. €12.99 euros a month. At first, a single subscription will cover every account linked to a single owner, but beginning in March 2024, you'll be paying extra for additional accounts at the rate of €6 ($6.37) per month for web and €8 ($8.49) for mobile.

Ouch.

Meta figures that giving users a choice between a free, ad-supported plan and an ad-free paid subscription allows the company to comply with EU regulations without affecting its ad business.

While this move is purely a legal maneuver on Meta's part, a more widespread subscription model isn't out of the question.

Elon hasn't been shy about subscriptions on X. He's tested a "$1 yearly fee for new users in the Philippines and New Zealand'' to access basic stuff like reposting, liking, and replying to posts. He also recently introduced Basic and Premium Plus subscriptions in addition to his Premium subscription plan as he looks for that sweet spot where the money flows like honey.

It's not inconceivable that we could see the subscription plan for social media platforms taking hold across the board. Let's face it: most of us hate ads. The problem is we don't like the idea of parting with our money for something we've been getting for free, particularly when social media platforms rely on their user base to attract advertisers.

Wait, maybe they should be paying us.

For now, let's wait for that new wave of memes to roll out on Facebook, warning us that Zuckerburg is about to start charging unless you opt out. It's not quite true yet.

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