Facebook starts charging people who don't want to see ads

The subscription package has just been announced by Meta, initially applied in the EU, EEA and Swiss markets from November. Accordingly, users in this region can pay 9.99 euros (260 thousand VND) per month when registering via the website, or 12.99 euros (330 thousand VND) when registering on the iOS and Android applications to avoid having to watch ads.

For those with multiple accounts, Meta says its subscription plan will support all accounts linked to a user in the Account Center. However, starting in March next year, it will charge an additional €6-8 for each new account.

The move marks the first time Meta has charged Facebook and Instagram users for its services. While Meta has always supported the idea of ​​a free internet, it said it had to do so to comply with European data protection regulations.

Earlier this year, Meta was fined €390 million by Ireland’s data protection authority for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). After an unsuccessful appeal, Mark Zuckerberg’s company was forced to comply, by giving users the ability to decide whether or not to allow the platform to use their data for targeted advertising.

For those who choose to use the social network for free, Meta says their experience will not change. Brands will still be able to run ads to tap into this user base. This approach, Meta says, is intended to “balance the demands of European regulators while also providing users with choice and allowing Meta to serve all users.”

Meta did not say whether it would expand the policy to other markets. However, the company supports the idea of ​​a free Internet in exchange for viewing ads. "We believe in an advertising-supported Internet that allows everyone to access personalized products and services regardless of their economic status," Meta said.

Previously, some sources said that this could be Mark Zuckerberg's way of following Elon Musk's example in charging users on X, in the context of fluctuating advertising revenue. In Vietnam, Facebook has also recently been accused of lax control, causing many ads with offensive content or ads selling fake goods to be rampant on the platform.