New experiment targets creators and Pages
Meta has begun testing a new restriction on Facebook that limits how many links certain users can post, unless they subscribe to the company’s paid Meta Verified plan. Under the experiment, users affected by the test are capped at two link posts unless they pay for the subscription, which starts at $14.99 per month.
The test applies to accounts using Professional Mode and to Facebook Pages, according to Meta. Professional Mode allows individuals to turn personal profiles into creator-style accounts that are eligible for broader distribution in Facebook’s discovery systems.
What links are affected and what still works
The limitation focuses on external links posted directly in feed posts. Users can still share links in comments, post affiliate links, and link to content hosted on Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Publishers are not included in the current phase of the experiment.
Meta confirmed the test and described it as a way to evaluate whether expanded posting capabilities create additional value for Meta Verified subscribers.
Pressure on creators and brands
If rolled out more broadly, the change could have a meaningful impact on creators and businesses that rely on Facebook to drive traffic to blogs, online stores, or external platforms. Once users hit the link cap, they would either need to stop posting links, shift to Meta-hosted content, or pay for the subscription to continue.
This approach mirrors a broader industry trend in which social platforms encourage native content over outbound links, often prioritizing posts that keep users inside their ecosystems.
Data behind the experiment
Meta’s latest transparency report offers context for the test. The company said that more than 98% of feed views in the U.S. come from posts without links. Of the small share of views tied to linked posts, most came from Pages users already follow, while links shared by friends or groups accounted for only a minor portion.
The report also identified YouTube, TikTok, and GoFundMe as the most frequently shared external domains, highlighting where traffic flows when links are allowed.
Part of a larger shift away from the link-based web
The experiment arrives amid growing debate over the future of link-driven distribution online. As artificial intelligence tools increasingly summarize content directly on platforms, publishers have seen referral traffic decline. Social networks have also tested deprioritizing posts with external links to keep engagement within their own services.
Meta’s link cap test suggests the company is exploring monetization strategies that align with this shift, while pushing creators and brands toward paid features and platform-native content.
