TIKTOK will let you completely ditch ads for a monthly fee for the first time ever, The Jattvibe can exclusively reveal.
Brits will be able to pay for a new subscription option called TikTok Ad-Free starting today.
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TikTok has rolled out a new ad-free subscription option Credit: TikTok / The Jattvibe
You’ll be asked if you want to pay £3.99 a month to remove ads Credit: TikTok / The Jattvibe
While the new option will begin appearing right away for some users, TikTok says that the rollout will be gradual.
The monthly fee is set at £3.99 and is totally optional, so you can still use TikTok for free if you’d rather.
And it’s only available to users aged 18 and over.
The move mirrors similar offerings from rival social media services like Facebook and Instagram – both of which charge money to remove ads.
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And it’s common in the TV world too, with Netflix, Amazon and Disney all serving up pricier ad-free tiers.
If you sign up to TikTok’s Ad-Free Subscription, nothing else will change about the app other than the removal of ads.
You won’t get any extra features or content compared to regular free users.
To find the new feature, you’ll just need to go into the Settings menu on your TikTok app.
The only difference between free TikTok and paid-for TikTok is whether or not you see ads Credit: Getty Images – Getty
TikTok joins other social media apps like Facebook and Instagram in charging for the removal of ads Credit: Getty
You can update your preferences at any time, and it’s always possible to switch back to the free version of the app.
TikTok says that advertising is essential to help support small and medium businesses in the UK.
Plenty of British businesses also flog their wares via TikTok Shop, which is a built-in marketplace on the app.
The tech giant says that in 2022, small UK businesses generated an estimated £1.2 billion in revenue through advertising on TikTok.
And it said that the food and drink sector was the one that saw “the most significant impact”.
“Choice for our community and growth for UK businesses go hand in hand on TikTok,” said TikTok MD Kris Boger
“Advertising on our platform is already helping thousands of British businesses reach new customers, increase sales and create jobs, while our new ad-free option gives people greater control over their experience.
“Together, this ensures we continue to deliver real economic impact while giving our community the flexibility to engage with TikTok in the way that suits them.”
According to a 2023 report by Oxford Economics, small business activity on TikTok contributed about £1.6 billion to the UK’s gross domestic product in 2022.
And it reportedly supported as many as 32,000 jobs.
TikTok says that its new subscription is available from today.
However, it said that the rollout would be gradual “over the coming months”, so you might not see it right away.
For comparison, Meta charges £2.99 a month for an ad-free version of Facebook and Instagram.
However, this rises to £3.99 a month if you’re signing up on iOS or Android instead of via the web.
And Amazon charges an extra £2.99 a month on time of the regular Prime or Prime Video membership to remove ads from its video service.
