Meta, the owner of the Facebook platform, has announced the limited testing of a new system that could radically change how content is shared on the platform by imposing financial restrictions on posting external links, a move that has drawn the interest of media, publishers, and digital influencers.
The test, which began recently, aims to restrict users not subscribed to the paid Meta Verified service—which starts at $12.99 USD per month—to posting only two external links per month, while subscribers enjoy nearly unlimited posting freedom.
This test currently targets pages and profiles using “Professional Mode,” which is designed for content creators and influencers who rely on Facebook as a primary tool for communication and income generation.
Although news organizations are currently exempt from this test, experts express concern that if this system is rolled out broadly, it could restrict the ability of ordinary users to freely share news articles and reports. This may affect the spread of information and news and limit public access to media content.
This shift is part of a broader strategy by Meta to gradually move away from a focus on news content, after deciding in 2023 to reduce the priority of news on the platform and focus on videos and engaging short-form content. This previously led to a more than 50% decline in traffic from Facebook to news websites according to some estimates, despite some limited signs of recovery this year.
This step is part of a wider effort to encourage users to subscribe to paid services, which include multiple benefits such as the blue verification badge, increased content visibility, and advanced security features, with subscription tiers reaching up to $500 per month for higher levels.
Details of the test appeared via in-app messages, warning users that free link posting would be limited to two per month starting December 16th, while encouraging them to subscribe to the paid service for additional benefits.
It was stated that the goal of the test is to “understand the value of posting more links for paid subscribers and to improve their experience on the platform,” noting that the company is still evaluating the results before any potential broader rollout of the system.
News content forms a cornerstone of user interaction on social media platforms, and companies like Facebook and Twitter have been prominent channels for disseminating news and articles.
This test comes as major technology companies shift towards paid subscription models and increase investment in artificial intelligence and short-form visual content. This poses significant challenges for publishers and journalists in reaching their traditional audience and is reshaping the future of news distribution online.
