TikTok is experimenting with a new monthly subscription to eliminate video-sharing platform advertisements.
The BBC has learned that the Chinese company is testing the service in an English-speaking market outside the United States, but the company has declined to comment on where.
The tryout price for the subscription is $4.99 (£4.13).
Meta reportedly considers ad-free subscriptions for EU residents to comply with the bloc’s advertising regulations.
TikTok displays personalized advertisements to all users over the age of 18 at this time.
TechCrunch, a news website, reported that the test is on a limited scale, and there is no assurance that a global subscription rollout will occur.
YouTube and X, formerly Twitter, and Tiktok are among the sites that already charge a monthly fee for fewer or no advertisements.
TikTok is experimenting with a new monthly subscription to eliminate video-sharing platform advertisements.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Meta owns Facebook and Instagram and plans to charge European users who opt out of receiving personalized advertisements on its platforms.
Meta reportedly informed EU regulators that users would be charged approximately €10 (£8.68) per month to use Instagram or Facebook without personalized advertisements on desktop and €13 (£11.28) per month on mobile.
A spokesperson for Meta told the BBC, “Meta believes in the value of free services supported by personalized advertisements.” Nonetheless, we continue investigating potential solutions to ensure compliance with evolving regulatory requirements. No further information is available at this time.”
In response to an EU ruling, the company announced in August that it intended to modify its terms and obtain users’ consent before displaying advertisements based on their personal information.
In January, it was fined €390 million (£346 million) by the Irish Data Protection Commission.
The regulator stated that Facebook and Instagram could not “force consent” by requiring users to accept how their data is utilized or quit the platform.
SOURCE – (BBC)
