Hi all, it's Rachyl Jones, a fellow on the tech team filling in for David today. Within the last 24 hours, news has surfaced that some of the most popular social media platforms could soon offer an ad-free option for users, upending the business model that social networks have relied on for the better part of two decades.
TikTok is testing a $4.99 per month subscription plan that would eliminate ads for users, Android Authority first reported on Monday. The short-form video platform confirmed it will pilot the option in an English-speaking market outside the U.S. Following the news, the Wall Street Journal reported Instagram and Facebook are eyeing a similar model in the E.U. Parent company Meta reportedly pitched the subscription option to regulators, who are increasingly trying to limit the company’s ability to serve targeted ads. A single Facebook or Instagram account on desktop would cost 10 euros ($10.50) per month, with each additional account tacking on 6 euros ($6.30). On mobile, the price would jump to a monthly 13 euros ($13.60) for one profile, to account for cuts taken by Apple’s and Google’s app stores, the Journal reported.
