Creators and online publishers have always suspected that Facebook hates when users leave the app. Now, Meta is proving them right. The company is currently running a test that forces creators to pay a monthly fee to share links to external websites freely.
The new system ties link sharing to the “Meta Verified” subscription. If a creator doesn’t pay up, they face a strict limit. Social media consultant Matt Navarra shared a screenshot of a Facebook notification. It bluntly warns that profiles without a paid subscription will be capped at sharing just two links per post.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed that this is real. Right now, the test only affects a specific group of creators and pages that use Facebook’s “professional mode.” Traditional news publishers aren’t in the crosshairs just yet. The company claims this is a “limited test” to see if offering unlimited link sharing makes the Meta Verified subscription more attractive to users.
While Meta tries to frame this as a value-add for subscribers, it represents a scary shift for the internet economy. For years, businesses and influencers built audiences on Facebook with the understanding that they could send traffic to their own stores, blogs, or newsletters. Capping that traffic effectively holds their livelihood ransom.
The Meta Verified subscription already costs $14.99 a month. Many users previously complained when Meta locked actual customer service behind this paywall. Now, taking away a basic function of the internet—the hyperlink—and requiring a credit card might push creators to the breaking point. If you want to direct your followers to a new YouTube video or a product page more than twice a month, you’d better be ready to open your wallet.
