Meta Trials New Limits on Link Sharing for Non-Verified Users
Meta has launched a pilot program that restricts the quantity of links users can include in their Facebook posts unless they subscribe to Meta Verified, a premium service priced from $14.99 per month.
Overview of the Link Sharing Pilot
Reports from various participants indicate that those enrolled in this test are confined to embedding no more than two links per post without holding a Meta Verified membership. This restriction does not apply to affiliate URLs, comments, or links directing to other platforms owned by Meta such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook itself.
who Does This Affect?
The trial primarily impacts users operating under Facebook’s professional mode and Pages. Professional mode converts personal profiles into creator accounts aimed at enhancing content visibility and engagement opportunities across the platform.
“This limited experiment is designed to assess whether permitting additional link posts offers tangible advantages for subscribers of Meta Verified,” explained a company spokesperson.
Consequences for Content Creators and Businesses
this new limitation could substantially affect creators and brands who depend on sharing external articles or resources via links to broaden their audience reach. Those opting out of subscribing may encounter difficulties promoting their content effectively within Facebook’s habitat.
The current test excludes publishers entirely; they remain unaffected by these constraints.Moreover,posting hyperlinks within comment sections continues without restrictions during this phase.
User Behavior Insights Behind the Policy Shift
A recent transparency update from Meta revealed that over 98% of feed impressions in the United States come from posts lacking embedded links. Only around 1.9% involve linked content-mostly shared by pages followed by users rather than friends or groups posting external URLs.
Main Domains Shared & Potential Impact on Sharing habits
YouTube, TikTok, and gofundme rank as the top domains among shared links according to recent data. With these new limits enforced, creators might be pushed toward prioritizing native content within Meta’s ecosystem or subscribing if they want uninterrupted ability to share multiple external links as before.
The Larger Picture: AI’s Role in Evolving Content distribution
the growing use of AI-powered summarization tools has fueled discussions about how audiences engage with linked web material today. As an example, some social media platforms have experimented with downranking posts containing external news headlines-favoring native interactions rather-to address declining traffic caused by automated AI summaries diverting clicks away from original sources.
