Facebook is trying something new that might change how businesses and creators use the site. The social network is trying out whether a key feature, sharing links to other websites, should only be available to paying members.
This test is part of the Meta Verified program. It puts a strict limit on how often most profiles can share links. This change has a direct effect on how people get traffic from the world’s biggest social network to the rest of the web.
Facebook’s subscription link sharing test
Social media expert Matt Navarra says that some creators recently got a message from Meta. It said that some profiles that didn’t have a Meta Verified badge would only be able to share links in two regular posts each month. This test applies to a professional or business account that is in “professional mode.”
The company says that for now, this test only affects a certain number of creators and pages. This first phase does not include traditional publishers. The parent company of Facebook is calling this a simple test of value. But it does mean that the platform may treat outside content very differently in the future.
Facebook is a big help for many creators and small businesses because it sends people to other sites. These links could lead to their blogs, online stores, or other places where they keep content. Limiting this ability too much could hurt their business. It effectively hides a key part of growing your audience behind a monthly paywall.
Meta Verified is something that creators already know about. The subscription, which starts at $14.99 a month, already includes features like better customer support and a verified badge. Adding basic link-sharing to this paid package would be a controversial move. It might make more professionals pay or rethink how much they depend on Facebook.
This test by Facebook shows how hard it is for the site to make money from its huge community of creators. This isn’t a final decision, but it does mean that in the future, people who depend on the site for information may have to pay a lot to get it.
