Facebook has started testing a major change to how users and businesses share links, signalling a shift in its long-standing approach to free link distribution.
Under the new system, users can share only two external links per month in organic posts unless they subscribe to Meta Verified. Facebook has allowed unlimited links for decades, making this one of the platform’s most significant monetisation experiments to date.
The test went live on December 16 for select users in the United States and the United Kingdom. Affected users received in-app notifications outlining the new limits and subscription options.
Meta Verified subscriptions for businesses range from $14.99 to $499 per month, depending on the service tier. Individual users can subscribe for £9.99 per month. Subscribers receive expanded link-sharing access, a verified badge, and added brand protection features.
Facebook tests £9.99 monthly subscription for sharing more than two links https://t.co/vtzOqKr7fL
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 18, 2025Meta confirmed that the policy remains a limited test designed to measure the perceived value of increased link-sharing privileges. Profiles without Meta Verified now face restrictions, which may prompt frequent link sharers to upgrade to paid plans.
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Social media analyst Matt Navarra said the move reflects Meta’s broader monetisation strategy and could reshape how creators and publishers view Facebook as a traffic source. He noted that businesses that depend on Facebook for growth must now factor link access into their costs.
Facebook is testing an $11.99/£9.99 monthly subscription if users want to share more than two links a month
Some US & UK users are already seeing limits and notifications to subscribe pic.twitter.com/zqJ9QDyyM7
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) December 19, 2025The test does not currently apply to publisher Pages. Even so, creators, marketers, and media organisations have raised concerns. External link posts already struggle with declining reach, and tighter limits may further reduce referral traffic.
Industry observers believe Meta expects limited backlash, as the platform has steadily deprioritised outbound links in recent years. The experiment could mark a turning point in how Facebook balances user growth, creator needs, and revenue generation.
