Meta Trials User Fees for Sharing Links, Possibly Striking a Hard Blow to Publishers
Meta, the company behind Facebook, is running a small-scale trial where profiles without a Meta Verified account could be restricted 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 typically utilized by creators and influencers to monetize their posts. While news organizations are not part of this test, the broader impact could be significant.
"Starting 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 hosting news content. Media consultants point out that after ending deals to pay publishers and restricting news sharing in Canada, Meta has signaled strongly that news is not a priority.
Media companies previously faced a steep decline in website visitors 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.
Driving Verified Sign-ups
This latest trial is seen as part of a broader campaign to persuade people to subscribe to Meta Verified. This paid tier ranges in price from £9.99 to almost four hundred pounds monthly and offers extra features like a verified badge and improved account protection.
- Meta's spokesperson stated: "This is a small experiment to see if the option to post an increased volume of posts with links adds additional value for Meta Verified subscribers."
- Some experts suggest this shift towards monetization may be connected with Meta's costly investments in other areas, like the virtual reality and AI.
Could News Benefit Elsewhere?
Interestingly that in January, Meta announced a shift towards a tailored feed for political content. Subsequent analysis indicated this may have led to more news content showing up again for some users.
As one instance, visitors referred by Facebook to some major sites 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 new revenue streams and publishers that depend upon them for traffic and audience reach.
