Meta Tests "Meta One" Subscription and Restricts External Links for Pages

Meta is testing a new global subscription package called "Meta One," in a move that appears distinct from its ad-supported free model. The company describes this phase as the beginning of a long-term monetization shift that transforms features previously free within its ecosystem into a paid service. Meta has not disclosed the price of the package or its launch date.

The test is paired with a new rule regarding links, as Meta requires non-subscribed business and professional pages to pay to include more than two external links per post. Reports indicate that news pages are currently exempt from the rule, an exception that sparks debate over the criteria for classifying news publishers and who qualifies.

Meta has expanded the restriction to comment sections—a space previously exempt—such that links exceeding the limit for non-subscribed publishers appear as unclickable text. The company excluded ad links, its own affiliate links, and links to its direct services such as "WhatsApp" and "Threads."

This shift directly impacts the link economy for business and professional pages and publishers, including media organizations in the Arab region that rely on "Facebook" and "Instagram" posts to drive traffic. It indicates that the platform seeks to charge for value it has distributed for free for years, raising the cost of reaching audiences via external links.

What Do These Terms Mean?

Meta One: A global subscription package under testing that bundles multiple features within Meta apps into a single paid subscription, instead of relying entirely on advertising.

Business or Professional Page: A Facebook or Instagram account managed for commercial or professional purposes, differing from a personal account in its tools and advertising capabilities.

External Link: An address pointing to a website or page outside Meta's own platform, used to direct users to a source different from the app where the post was published.

Link Economy: The mutual reliance between platforms and publishers on links to direct traffic, measure engagement, and convert audiences into visitors to external websites.