Meta will offer an ad-free subscription plan for Instagram and Facebook in Europe starting in November. The price will be 9.99 euros per month for the web version or 12.99 euros per month for iOS and Android to comply with European regulations. 

As had been rumored, users who want to stop advertising on these social networks will be able to do so from this month upon payment of a monthly fee. In this way, it could avoid future sanctions such as those it has recently received.

As explained by Meta, regardless of where it is purchased, the subscription will apply to all Facebook and Instagram accounts linked in a user's Account Center until March 1, 2024. After that date, however, an additional fee of €6 per month on the web and €8 per month on iOS and Android will apply for each additional account listed in a user's Account Center.

Meta promises compliance with the EU 

The company remains committed to an ad-supported Internet, even with its new subscription offering in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. Despite this, they respect the spirit and purpose of these European regulations and are committed to complying with them.

Last August, the company announced a change in the legal basis underpinning personalized ads on its platforms to offer users a consent-based model, in line with European regulation.

Thus, the alternative for individuals to purchase an ad-free subscription balances the requirements of European regulators while giving users a choice and allowing Meta to continue to serve all individuals in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. In its ruling, the CJEU expressly recognized that a subscription model, such as the one being advertised by Meta, is a valid form of consent to an ad-funded service.

Thus, users who use the free option of these social networks will consent to the collection of information and its use to display personalized advertisements. On the other hand, those who choose the paid option will no longer share this data with Facebook or Instagram.

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Following a Showroomprive survey, 71.23% of Spaniards are more willing to buy from brands with a social mission or that provide support to NGOs.

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Donating part of the profits to social initiatives and humanitarian organizations seems essential to leave a mark as a brand in the hearts of Spaniards. 

Compared to the 28.77% of respondents who say they are not influenced by this type of "solidarity marketing" actions, 71.23% of consumers prioritize their purchases in those companies with a charitable soul that donate part of their profits to NGOs. 

Supporting responsible consumption, caring for the environment, helping vulnerable groups, making room in the closet for other trends... All these reasons have deeply penetrated the collective conscience, which is reflected in the actions of Spanish customers: according to the survey, 86.74% acknowledge having donated second-hand fashion at some time, compared to 13.26%.

Social missions preferred in Spain

The survey by Showroomprive highlighted the six issues that Spanish society is most concerned about in 2023. 

The impact of inflation on the domestic economy worries Spaniards the most, with the economic crisis being the most voted, with 63.19%. It is followed by other issues such as the impact of the pandemic (53.88%), poverty and social inequality (50.07%), climate emergency (47.25%), gender violence (31.73%), and racism (21.30%).  

• The economic crisis: 63.19%.
• The impact of the pandemic: 53.88%.
• Poverty and social inequality: 50.07%.
• Climate emergency: 47.25%.
• Gender-based violence: 31.73%.
• Racism: 21.30% 

Showroomprive bet on solidarity with ‘Move Forward’

Showroomprive exemplifies this type of ‘solidarity company’ through its CSR project "Move Forward" which has led it to collaborate this 2022 with various Spanish NGOs, such as The National Confederation of Women in Equality, in support of victims of gender violence, and the CRIS Research Foundation Against Cancer. 

Respect for the environment, social inclusion, and women's rights are at the heart of the company's social responsibility actions. 

All in all, it seems clear that brands will need to keep a social and eco-friendly profile if they want to succeed in Spain during 2023. 

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In the fourth quarter of 2018, Dutch consumers bought 453 million euros in European webshops, according to CBS. This is 22% more than in the same period in 2017. This information is about online purchases made by Dutch consumers at webshops that are based in the European Union, but not in the Netherlands.

International and domestic growth

Not only has the amount of money spent on cross-border purchases increases; domestic online sales are increasing even more. In 2018, the online sales of webshops based in the Netherlands were almost 18% higher than in 2017. The growth rate of the Dutch online sales for European webshops and Dutch webshops remains high, but this growth in the last year has never been as high as in 2015. In 2015, the turnover of Dutch webshops increased by 22%.

However, the purchases of Dutch people at European webshops form a relatively small part of consumer spending. In 2018, this was just under 2% of the total Dutch retail sales. The difference between Dutch and foreign webshops is not always clear to consumers. Web shops are often laid out in several languages, Dutch being one of them. ​

VAT Rules

The online purchases of Dutch people at foreign webshops within the European Union are calculated from the VAT returns. Companies that sell products to Dutch consumers from other countries are required to submit a VAT return in the Netherlands. A threshold amount of 100 thousand euros per year applies here. Foreign companies whose annual turnover in so-called distance sales falls below this limit do not have to submit a VAT return.

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Ivaylo Moskovski, Bulgarian Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications says that "the rules will make information on different parcel delivery options more available, including consignment tracking services that are important for e-commerce. Adopting these rules is another milestone in the realization of the digital single market."

Delivery tariffs will be published on a website so that users can choose the best prices. This increases transparency and should create more competitive pressure in order to lower prices that can't be objectively justified. These rules could be beneficial to consumers and small(er) retailers, who are yet unable to negotiate better prices because of their smaller position in the market. The vote in the European Parliament took place on 13 March 2018. The Regulation will be signed by the two EU institutions and published in the Official Journal of the EU. It comes into force 20 days after its publication.

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Now, Google splits off Google Shopping according to Bloomberg’s report. It will create a standalone service, which will be required to bid against rivals for ads shown on the top of its search page. Bloomberg bases its news on sources who asked to not be named as negotiations are private. They say the shopping service will remain part of Google but will operate separately and use its own revenues to bid for ads.

Fine
Google got a fine of a record-breaking €2.4 billion euro by the European Commission in June, after it was accused of abusing its dominant position and promoting its own comparison service - Google Shopping - over those of its competitors.

90 days to change behaviour
Google got 90 days from the European Commission to change this behaviour. This deadline ends this coming Friday. If the deadline won’t be met, Google will have to pay up to 5 percent of its parent company Alphabet’s global daily revenue.

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