Meta to limit Facebook link posts

Meta has begun a new test regarding link sharing on Facebook. Under this test, the number of links that can be posted by users of Professional Mode and Facebook Pages is being limited. To post more links than the specified limit, users will need to purchase a paid Meta Verified subscription.

Several users have recently noticed this change. Social media analyst Matt Navarra first brought the matter to public attention.

He reported that users under the test can post a maximum of four links. To post more links, they are being required to take a Meta Verified subscription costing at least $14.99 per month.

Meta has confirmed the development. In a statement to the technology news outlet TechCrunch, the company said this is a limited-scope test. The test applies only to users of Professional Mode and Facebook Pages.

Professional Mode allows regular users to convert their profiles into creator accounts, which can help content reach more people. However, with this new test, those same users are facing additional pressure.

A Meta spokesperson said, "This test is being conducted to understand whether offering the ability to post a higher volume of links provides additional value for Meta Verified subscribers."

However, this limit does not apply to all links. Users can still post links in comments. There are also no restrictions on affiliate links. Furthermore, sharing links to posts inside Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp is still permitted.

Meta stated that, for now, news outlets or publishers have not been included in this test. However, there are concerns it could impact content creators and brands, particularly those who rely on sharing blog or external website links to attract audiences.

Meta's latest transparency report shows that in the United States, over 98 per cent of views in the Facebook Feed come from posts without links. Only 1.9 per cent of views come from posts with links. This data may have encouraged Meta to pursue this new test.

The report also stated that among the most widely shared links, YouTube and TikTok are at the top.

Experts believe that if this limit is implemented widely, content creators will be forced to publish content directly on Meta's own platforms, or else take out a subscription. This poses a risk of reduced traffic to external websites.

Many publishers have already complained that traffic to their websites is decreasing due to AI.

Previously, various social media platforms, including X, have also reduced the prominence of link posts. Analysts believe Meta's new test further clarifies this trend.