The deployment of the paid subscription allowing you to use Facebook or Instagram without advertising is underway in Europe. But is it obligatory to subscribe to this subscription? And what happens if we choose not to pay? We explain everything to you.



Recently, while checking Facebook or Instagram, you may have noticed a new box. This informs you that to continue to benefit from these two social networks for free, you must consent to Meta, their parent company, collecting and using certain information about you in order to display targeted advertisements. Otherwise, you will have to subscribe to a monthly subscription of €13 on mobile or €10 on computer (€12.99 and €9.99 to be precise)

If you opt for the paid subscription, your data is not collected, and above all, you will not be exposed to advertisements on Facebook or Instagram. For Meta, this move aims to comply with the European Union's Digital Services Act, while creating a potential new source of revenue. But in concrete terms, is it advantageous to take out this subscription? And what happens if you decide not to?

Meta launches paid subscriptions for Facebook and Instagram in Europe.

In full transparency, if you are already a Facebook or Instagram user and you choose to continue using them for free, nothing will change for you. It is important to remember that Facebook and Instagram have been collecting our data for many years. The only “new thing” lies in the fact that Meta now explicitly asks us to accept this in full knowledge of the facts. In practice, as shown in the screenshot below, your experience will remain unchanged



The paid subscription guarantees ad-free browsing on the group's social networks. Please note that minors' accounts are now free of advertising, free of charge. Meta cannot demand payment for their deletion. However, the Court of Justice of the European Union, in its order of July 4, 2023, stipulates that the amount requested must not be dissuasive, so as not to force acceptance of data collection. This collection brings in around €6 per person to Mark Zuckerberg’s company. We are awaiting advice from the Irish Data Protection Commission, where Meta has its European headquarters, regarding pricing.