Meta Tests Charging Users for Posting Web Links, Potentially Dealing a Blow to Publishers
Facebook's parent company, Meta, is conducting a limited test where users without a Meta Verified account may be limited to sharing only two external web links per month.
Details of the Test
This pilot program at present includes a selection of Facebook profiles operating in Professional Mode, which is typically utilized by creators and influencers to earn money from their posts. Although publishers are excluded from this trial, the long-term implications could prove substantial.
"Beginning 16 December, some Facebook accounts without Meta Verified will be restricted to posting two free posts per month."
Stepping Back from News
This move follows Meta's multi-year deliberately retreating from hosting news content. Industry analysts note that after withdrawing from publisher payments and blocking news links in Canada, Meta has signaled strongly that news is not a priority.
Publishers previously faced a steep decline in online traffic following a policy change last year to show less news in favor of short-form and engaging video. While traffic had been recovering in 2024, it was still lower by around 50% compared to the previous year.
The Push for Subscriptions
This latest trial is seen as part of a wider effort to encourage users to subscribe to Meta Verified. This subscription service costs from £9.99 to almost four hundred pounds monthly and provides additional perks like a verified badge and enhanced security.
- A company representative said: "This is a small experiment to see if the option to post an increased volume of posts with links provides extra benefit for Meta Verified subscribers."
- Some experts suggest this shift towards monetization may be connected with Meta's costly investments in other areas, like the virtual reality and AI.
A Potential Silver Lining?
It is worth noting that earlier in the year, Meta stated it would take towards a tailored feed for news and politics. Later reports indicated this could have resulted in more news content reappearing in feeds for some users.
As one instance, traffic from Facebook to certain newspaper websites was said to increase significantly in the early months of this year.
Ultimately, this test highlights the ongoing tension between social media platforms seeking new revenue streams and news organizations that depend upon them for readers and visibility.
