Meta begrudgingly launches €9.99 ad-free subscription for Facebook and Instagram

The effects of the EU’s regulatory crusade on Big Tech are beginning to make themselves known to consumers. Yesterday, Meta launched ad-free subscription services for Facebook and Instagram within the bloc. Users will be able to pay from €9.99 to use the social media platforms without seeing ads — or continue using them for free and have their data collected.  We are probably not alone in the experience that ads have completely taken over much of what began as a means of a