Meta Tests User Fees for Sharing Links, Potentially Dealing a 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 external web links per month.
The Trial's Parameters
This pilot program currently involves a subset of Facebook pages using Professional Mode features, which is often used by content creators to earn money from their posts. While news organizations are not part of this test, the long-term implications could prove substantial.
"Beginning 16 December, some Facebook accounts without Meta Verified will be restricted to posting two organic posts per month."
Stepping Back from News
This move follows years of Meta strategic withdrawal from hosting news content. Media consultants note that after withdrawing from publisher payments and blocking news links in Canada, Meta has signaled strongly that news is not a priority.
Publishers already experienced a steep decline in online traffic following a 2023 decision to de-prioritise news in favor of more videos and viral content. While traffic had been recovering in 2024, it remained down by approximately half compared to the previous year.
The Push for Subscriptions
The new test is seen as part of a wider effort to persuade people to subscribe to Meta Verified. This paid tier ranges in price from £9.99 to nearly £400 monthly and provides additional perks like a blue checkmark and improved account protection.
- Meta's spokesperson stated: "This is a small experiment to understand whether the option to post an greater number of posts with links adds additional value for paying users."
- Analysts theorize this move to charge for reach may be connected with Meta's costly investments in other areas, like the virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
Could News Benefit Elsewhere?
Interestingly that in January, Meta stated it would take towards a tailored feed for political content. Subsequent analysis indicated this may have led to increased publisher content showing up again for some users.
As one instance, traffic from Facebook to some major sites reportedly grew significantly in the early months of this year.
In the end, this test highlights the continuing struggle between social media platforms seeking fresh income sources and publishers that depend upon them for traffic and audience reach.
