This change may pose an additional challenge for media outlets and publishers who rely on the platform to reach their audience.
Facebook's parent company, Meta, announced the start of a "limited test" that allows users who are not subscribed to the paid Meta Verified service - which starts at $12.99 per month - to post only two external links per month, while subscribers to the service enjoy almost unlimited posting freedom.
The test is currently focused on a specific category of pages and profiles that use "Pro Mode," a feature primarily aimed at content creators and influencers who rely on the platform to monetize their posts.
While news organizations are currently exempt from this test, it raises concerns among publishers that in its final version it could restrict the ability of ordinary users to freely share news articles and reports, thus affecting the spread of media content.
This development comes as part of a gradual strategic shift for Meta away from news content, following its controversial decision in 2023 to reduce the priority of this content and focus instead on videos and short, engaging content.
That decision previously led to a decrease in traffic from Facebook to news sites by more than 50% according to some estimates, despite some limited signs of recovery this year.
This experiment is part of a broader strategy to encourage users to subscribe to paid services, with Meta Verified costing between $12.99 for the basic level and around $500 per month for higher levels, and including benefits such as the blue verification badge, increased visibility, and advanced security features.
Details of the test appeared via in-app messages warning users that they would be limited to posting two free links per month starting December 16, while urging them to subscribe to the paid service for more benefits.
Media expert David Bootle commented: "Meta has been deliberately retreating from news for years. This test confirms the platform's shift from a free model to one focused on profiting from audience reach, perhaps due to its significant investments in artificial intelligence following the costly Metaverse venture."
A spokesperson for Meta explained that the goal of the test was "to understand whether the ability to publish more posts with links adds value to paid subscribers and helps improve the service for them."
