Facebook Tests Charging Users for Posting Web Links, Potentially Striking a Hard Blow to News Outlets
Meta, the company behind Facebook, is running a small-scale trial where users without a Meta Verified account could be restricted to posting just two links to other sites per month.
The Trial's Parameters
This pilot program currently involves a selection of Facebook profiles operating in Professional Mode, which is typically utilized by content creators to monetize their posts. While news organizations are not part of this test, the long-term implications could be significant.
"Beginning 16 December, some Facebook accounts without Meta Verified will be restricted to posting two organic posts per month."
Stepping Back from News
This action comes after years of Meta strategic withdrawal from news distribution. Media consultants note that after withdrawing from publisher payments and blocking news links in Canada, Meta has made it clear that news is not a priority.
Media companies already experienced a massive drop in website visitors following a policy change last year to de-prioritise news in favor of short-form and engaging video. While traffic had been recovering in 2024, it was still lower by approximately half compared to the previous year.
The Push for Subscriptions
The new test is seen as part of a wider effort to encourage users to subscribe to Meta Verified. This paid tier costs from £9.99 to nearly £400 monthly and provides additional perks like a blue checkmark and improved account protection.
- A company representative said: "This is a small experiment to understand whether the option to post an greater number of posts with links provides extra benefit for paying users."
- Some experts suggest this move to charge for reach may be connected with Meta's expensive ventures in other areas, like the virtual reality and AI.
A Potential Silver Lining?
Interestingly that in January, Meta stated it would take towards a more personalized approach for political content. Later reports indicated this may have led to increased publisher content reappearing in feeds for some users.
For example, traffic from Facebook to certain newspaper websites was said to increase significantly in the first part of 2025.
Ultimately, this test highlights the continuing struggle between giant tech networks seeking fresh income sources and publishers that depend upon them for traffic and audience reach.
