Meta Trials User Fees for Sharing Links, Possibly 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 links to other sites per month.
Details of the Test
This experiment currently involves a subset of Facebook pages using Professional Mode features, which is often used by creators and influencers to earn money from their posts. Although publishers are excluded from this trial, the broader impact could be significant.
"Starting 16 December, certain Facebook profiles without Meta Verified will be limited to sharing two free 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 made it clear that news is not a priority.
Publishers previously faced a massive drop in online traffic following a policy change last year to show less news in favor of short-form and engaging video. Although visits were starting to rebound 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 ranges in price from £9.99 to almost four hundred pounds monthly and provides additional perks like a blue checkmark and enhanced security.
- Meta's spokesperson stated: "This is a small experiment to see if the ability to publish an increased volume of posts with links adds additional value for Meta Verified subscribers."
- Some experts suggest this move to charge for reach may be linked to Meta's expensive ventures in other areas, like the metaverse and AI.
Could News Benefit Elsewhere?
Interestingly that earlier in the year, Meta stated it would take towards a more personalized approach for political content. Subsequent analysis indicated this could have resulted in increased publisher content showing up again for some users.
For example, visitors referred by Facebook to certain newspaper websites reportedly grew by a notable margin in the early months of this year.
Ultimately, this test highlights the continuing struggle between giant tech networks seeking fresh income sources and news organizations that rely on them for traffic and audience reach.
