Meta Expands UK Ad-Free Options While Exploring Google AI Partnership

TLDR

Table of Contents

Meta launches ad-free subscription for UK Facebook and Instagram users at £2.99/month web, £3.99 mobile
Company exploring partnership with Google to use Gemini AI models for enhanced ad targeting capabilities
Move follows European regulatory pressure on data privacy and targeted advertising practices
Ad-free subscribers won’t see ads and their data won’t be used for advertising purposes
Meta’s advertising business generated 98% of its $164.5 billion revenue last year

Meta Platforms announced Friday it will launch ad-free subscription options for Facebook and Instagram users in the United Kingdom within the coming weeks. The move gives British users a choice between paying monthly fees or continuing with free, ad-supported services.

Mark Zuckerberg and $META will offer paid versions of Facebook and Instagram in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 that will remove advertising from both platforms
The ad free version would cost £2.99 a month on the web, or £3.99 for the iOS or Android apps – Bloomberg pic.twitter.com/pALZdjuU7x
— Evan (@StockMKTNewz) September 26, 2025

The subscription pricing matches Meta’s European Union model. Web users will pay £2.99 ($3.99) monthly while iOS and Android users face £3.99 charges.

This pricing structure reflects the platform differences in payment processing. The higher mobile costs account for app store fees that Apple and Google charge developers.

The UK rollout follows pressure from the country’s data protection authority. Regulators have raised concerns about how social media platforms handle personal information for advertising purposes.

Meta designed the ad-free tier to give users more control over their online experience. The company maintains its ability to provide free services funded by advertising revenue.

Users choosing the paid subscription will see no advertisements. Their personal data won’t be processed for advertising targeting purposes either.

Exploring AI Partnerships

Separately, Meta has held talks with Google Cloud about using Gemini artificial intelligence models for its advertising business. Sources indicate these discussions remain in early stages without guaranteed outcomes.

Meta employees have suggested fine-tuning Google’s Gemini and open-source Gemma models on the company’s advertising data. This approach could enhance ad targeting capabilities and improve advertiser return on investment.

The potential partnership highlights challenges in scaling AI technology. Even companies making massive investments in research, infrastructure, and talent face difficulties developing competitive AI solutions independently.

Previous reports indicated Meta was considering partnerships with Google or OpenAI. These collaborations could enhance AI features including conversational responses for Meta’s AI chatbot.

Revenue Dependencies

Meta’s advertising business generated approximately 98% of the company’s $164.5 billion revenue last year. This heavy reliance on ad sales makes balancing privacy regulations with revenue generation crucial for growth strategy.

The shift toward subscription options reflects broader industry trends. Tech companies face increasing regulatory pressure over personal data use and targeted advertising practices.

Apple and Google have already implemented changes responding to privacy demands. These modifications have reshaped how online advertising operates across platforms.

Any partnership between Meta and Google would benefit both companies. Meta could improve ad relevance using Gemini models while Google gains adoption across Meta’s extensive user base.

Wall Street maintains Strong Buy ratings for both Meta Platforms and Alphabet stocks. Meta’s average price target of $873.88 suggests 16.7% upside potential.

The talks between Meta and Google remain preliminary with no confirmed timeline for potential agreements. Sources caution that discussions may not result in final deals.

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