In what’s not a joke; Meta, also known as Facebook which owns Instagram, announced plans to offer an ad-free subscription experience for its European users. Users can pay €9.99 for an ad-free Facebook timeline.

The subscription service will be available to users over 18, and only to those in the European Union. UK users are exempt from ad-free Facebook. Meta is offering the subscription service after being fined €390 million for breaking EU ad privacy rules. The company claims the new subscription service is being started while they figure out how to get in compliance of EU laws and not about making money.

The Illusion of Choice

EU users will be able to continue using Meta’s products for free, with ads, but must agree to having their data collected. Or, they can pony up the euros and opt out of targeted advertising. And wait…there’s more.

If you are an iOS or Android user you have the esteemed privilege of paying an extra €3 more to take into account the additional ad dollars the native app platforms rake in. Also, beginning March 2024, users will have to pay money for each additional account on the platform. This will affect business users, and people who have half a dozen proxy accounts.

Social Media Is Still Dead

Facebook’s subscription service comes after Elon Musk announced his X+ Premium plans. Elon plans to charge UK users £16 pounds a month to use X/Twitter ad-free with a blue check. They plan to offer a cheaper service that allows people to edit posts.

I don’t know if any of these plans are worth it. It’s true, social media has provided lots of commentary of value. Differing points of view on the current Israeli-Palestinian Crisis have offered people a different take on the status quo coming from the government. On both sides.

I just don’t know if the ability to have these conversations are worth $22 or $10 when so much more of social media is a cesspool.

-MJ