Meta's paid-link test hits library and nonprofit pages
A Texas library and an Indianapolis pet food pantry say they were blocked from sharing links after Meta's trial began charging Facebook pages for extra posts.
Meta's test of charging Facebook pages for posting more than two links per month has begun affecting government and nonprofit pages, even though Meta says the test is not supposed to apply to them, according to Engadget. Pages that exceed the limit are told to sign up for a Meta One subscription costing $50 or more per month.
The Greenville, Texas library page was informed it could not post more than two links a month. Daniel Starks, a communications manager for Greenville, Texas, confirmed the restriction. The East Side Pawject, a small pet food pantry nonprofit in Indianapolis, was blocked from posting a link after using its two monthly links. Bethany English, co-president of the nonprofit, said the block affected its operations.
Meta is testing whether sharing links on Facebook should be part of the Meta One subscription, a Meta spokesperson said. The cheapest Meta One plan, at $14.99 a month, includes no additional link-sharing privileges on Facebook. An expert-level plan allowing up to 20 links a month would cost $150 a month.
Meta has been testing paid linking for nearly a year, according to Engadget. The company originally incorporated paid linking into Meta Verified subscriptions before promoting it as a benefit of Meta One plans.
Quick answers
How much does Meta charge for extra Facebook links?
Pages that exceed the two-link monthly limit must sign up for a Meta One subscription costing $50 or more per month. An expert-level plan allowing up to 20 links a month costs $150 per month.
Are government and nonprofit pages exempt from the paid-link test?
Meta says the test is not supposed to affect government and nonprofit pages, but the Greenville, Texas library and the East Side Pawject nonprofit have received the restrictions.
Does the cheapest Meta One plan include extra links?
No. The cheapest Meta One plan at $14.99 a month comes with no additional link-sharing privileges on Facebook.