Facebook Trials Charging Users for Posting Web Links, Possibly Dealing a Blow to Publishers
Facebook's parent company, Meta, is running a small-scale trial where users without a Meta Verified account may be limited to posting just two external web links per month.
The Trial's Parameters
This pilot program at present includes a subset of Facebook pages 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 be significant.
"Beginning 16 December, certain Facebook profiles 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 hosting news content. Industry analysts 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 previously faced a massive drop in online traffic following a 2023 decision to show less news in favor of short-form and engaging video. Although visits were starting to rebound in 2024, it remained down by around 50% compared to the previous year.
Driving Verified Sign-ups
The new test is understood to be a broader campaign to encourage users to sign up for Meta Verified. This paid tier ranges in price from £9.99 to nearly £400 monthly and offers extra features like a verified badge and enhanced security.
- Meta's spokesperson stated: "This is a limited test to understand whether the option to post an increased volume of posts with links adds additional value for Meta Verified subscribers."
- Analysts theorize this shift towards monetization may be linked to Meta's expensive ventures in other areas, like the metaverse and artificial intelligence.
A Potential Silver Lining?
It is worth noting that earlier in the year, Meta announced a shift towards a more personalized approach for news and politics. Later reports indicated this may have led to more news content showing up again for some users.
As one instance, visitors referred by Facebook to certain newspaper websites was said to increase significantly in the first part of 2025.
In the end, this test highlights the continuing struggle between giant tech networks seeking new revenue streams and news organizations that rely on them for readers and visibility.
