Bad news for those sharing links on Facebook
Meta has started a new experiment with link sharing on Facebook. Under the experiment, users in professional mode and Facebook Pages are being limited to posting links. If they want to share more than the specified number of links, users will have to purchase a paid Meta Verified subscription.
Several users have recently noticed this change, first reported by social media analyst Matt Navarro.
According to him, users under the test can post a maximum of four links. To share more links, you have to take out a Meta Verified subscription for at least $14.99 per month.
Meta confirmed the matter in a statement to tech news outlet TechCrunch. The company said that this is a limited test, which currently only applies to Professional Mode users and Facebook Pages.
Professional mode allows regular users to convert their personal profiles into content creator accounts, allowing them to reach a wider audience. However, the new test puts those users under additional pressure, as they have to subscribe to share links regularly.
A Meta spokesperson said the test is being conducted to understand whether the ability to post more content, including links, adds additional value for Meta verified users.
However, this restriction does not apply to all types of links. Users will still be able to post links in comments. There is no restriction on affiliate links either. In addition, sharing links to content within Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp will also be permitted.
Meta said that the test has not yet been extended to media outlets or publishers. However, it is feared that it could impact content creators and brands, especially those who regularly share links to drive traffic to blogs or external websites.
According to Meta’s latest transparency report, more than 98 percent of Facebook feed views in the United States come from unlinked posts. Only 1.9 percent of views come from linked posts. This information is likely what encouraged Meta to move forward with such an experiment.
The report also noted that YouTube and TikTok topped the list of most shared links.
According to experts, if this restriction is implemented, content creators will be more forced to publish content on Meta’s own platform. Otherwise, there will be no choice but to take out a subscription. This could lead to a risk of reducing traffic to external websites.
Many publishers are already complaining about a decline in readership on their websites due to artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Adding this new limit on link sharing could further complicate the situation.
Various social media platforms, including X, have previously downgraded the importance of linked posts. Analysts believe that Meta’s new test makes that trend even clearer.
