Facebook Tests Charging Users for Sharing Links, Possibly Dealing a Blow to News Outlets

Meta, the company behind Facebook, 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 experiment at present includes a selection of Facebook profiles using Professional Mode features, which is typically utilized 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, certain Facebook profiles without Meta Verified will be restricted to posting two organic posts per month."

A History of Retreat

This move follows years of Meta deliberately retreating from news distribution. Industry analysts note that after withdrawing from publisher payments and restricting news sharing in Canada, Meta has made it clear that news is no longer strategic.

Media companies previously faced a massive drop in online traffic following a policy change last year to show less news in favor of more videos and viral content. Although visits were starting to rebound in 2024, it was still lower by approximately half compared to the previous year.

Driving Verified Sign-ups

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 verified badge and enhanced security.

• 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 linked to 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 more personalized approach for political content. Later reports indicated this may have led to more news content reappearing in feeds for some users.

As one instance, visitors referred by Facebook to certain newspaper websites was said to increase by a notable margin in the first part of 2025.

In the end, this test highlights the ongoing tension between social media platforms seeking new revenue streams and publishers that rely on them for traffic and audience reach.