Meta Trials User Fees for Posting Web Links, Possibly Striking a Hard Blow to News Outlets
Facebook's parent company, Meta, is conducting a limited test where profiles without a Meta Verified account may be limited to posting just two links to other sites per month.
The Trial's Parameters
This pilot program currently involves a subset of Facebook pages 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 limited to sharing two organic posts per month."
A History of Retreat
This action comes after Meta's multi-year deliberately retreating from hosting news content. Industry analysts 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 already experienced a massive drop in online traffic following a policy change last year to show less news in favor of short-form and engaging video. While traffic had been recovering in 2024, it was still lower by around 50% compared to the previous year.
Driving Verified Sign-ups
The new test is understood to be a broader campaign to persuade people to sign up for Meta Verified. This subscription service costs from £9.99 to almost four hundred pounds monthly and provides additional perks like a blue checkmark and improved account protection.
- Meta's spokesperson stated: "This is a limited test to see if the option to post an increased volume of posts with links provides extra benefit for paying users."
- Analysts theorize this shift towards monetization may be connected with Meta's expensive ventures in other areas, like the metaverse and AI.
Could News Benefit Elsewhere?
It is worth noting that earlier in the year, Meta announced a shift towards a tailored feed for political content. Subsequent analysis indicated this could have resulted in increased publisher content reappearing in feeds for some users.
As one instance, visitors referred by Facebook to some major sites reportedly grew significantly in the first part of 2025.
In the end, this trial underscores the ongoing tension between giant tech networks seeking new revenue streams and publishers that depend upon them for readers and visibility.