Facebook is testing a limit on link posting for users in professional mode and Facebook Pages. The experiment restricts users to a maximum of two links per post unless they subscribe to Meta Verified, which costs $14.99 per month.
Social media strategist Matt Navarra reported the test after spotting it last week. A screenshot he shared shows users can post affiliate links, links in comments, and links to content on Meta platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp without restrictions. Meta confirmed the test applies only to professional mode and Facebook Pages. Professional mode converts a personal profile into a creator profile, increasing content discoverability to a wider audience.
“This is a limited test to understand whether the ability to publish an increased volume of posts with links adds additional value for Meta Verified subscribers,” a Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch. The company aims to identify ways to enhance the paid subscription plan through such experiments.
The test affects creators and brands that share links from external blogs or platforms to reach audiences. Publishers are not part of this test. Links in comments remain unrestricted for all users.
Meta’s Q3 transparency report provides context on link usage. More than 98 percent of feed views in the United States come from posts without links. Of the remaining views for posts with links, which total about 1.9 percent, most originate from pages users follow. Views from posts shared by friends or in groups are minimal.
The report also lists the most common domains in linked posts: YouTube, TikTok, and GoFundMe.
If the limit becomes permanent, creators and brands exceeding two links would need to share content from other Meta platforms like Instagram or WhatsApp, or stop posting links unless they purchase a Meta Verified subscription.
This test occurs amid broader shifts in online content distribution. AI-driven search and summary tools have reduced traffic to linked external sites, affecting publishers. Platforms like X have adjusted algorithms to prioritize native content over posts with external links, demoting the latter to encourage on-platform posting.
