Meta Deviates from Traditional Model, Launches €10/Month Ad-Free Subscriptions in Europe Amid Criticism and User Backlash

Meta's decision to introduce paid ad-free subscription plans for Facebook and Instagram in Europe, costing €10/month, marks a deviation from its traditional model of a free platform supported by advertisements. The move is in response to a Europe-wide ban on using personal data of Facebook and Instagram users for targeted advertising. The ban, initially imposed by non-EU member Norway, now extends to all 30 countries in the European Union and the European Economic Area. The introduction of the subscription plans has been met with mixed reactions, with some users threatening to delete their accounts and critics arguing that privacy should not be turned into a luxury.