TikTok are testing a paid subscription that gets rid of ads.

TikTok is one of the world’s most popular social media apps and has always been completely free. Now, TikTok have confirmed that they will begin testing paid subscriptions for users.

Code within the TikTok app had revealed that TikTok were looking to test a monthly subscription that would eliminate advertisements for paying users. TikTok have since confirmed that they’re testing paid subscriptions in a single, English-speaking market outside the US – how ambiguous.

Keen eyes over at Android Authority were the ones who first stumbled on surprising code within the app that opens up the possibility of a paid, monthly subscription coming to TikTok. It suggested that the app would offer an ad-free experience to users for $4.99 a month.

TikTok deny suggestions that they will be launching their subscription tier in the US anytime in the future. They stated that small-scale tests don’t indicate a product launch is inevitable.

It seems more likely that the subscription tier may be coming to Europe if TikTok look to launch it to markets officially. That’s based on Meta’s considerations to launch paid subscriptions for Facebook and Instagram to European Union member states. This expands on Meta’s first paid subscription offering for verified badges earlier this year, but this time out of necessity.

Thanks to increasing regulation on social media apps in Europe, ad-free subscriptions may be their answer. Meta’s apps have come under fire for the data that they collect on users, which powers the personalised ads that users see and therefore drives Facebook’s profits.

The Digital Services Act allows users to block recommendations generated based on their data under EU law. Snapchat and Meta are also now blocked from advertising to teenagers under 18.

So with an increasing debate over how data is collected and ads are used, social media platforms may be looking to subscriptions for a revenue stream. At least, they probably will be for Europe and we’ll have to see if territories outside the European Union begin to scrutinise these platforms moreso.

But will users be willing to pay for experiences they’ve always known to be free, regardless of the ad-free benefits? Let us know what you think in the comments below.