Greenville library hits two-link cap as Meta tests paid posting

The Greenville, Texas, library Facebook page can only add two links to posts this month, and both slots are filled. Additional links require a Meta One subscription starting at $50 per month. The page is verified as a government building, yet it is now subject to the same restrictions as personal accounts.

Daniel Starks, communications manager for the city of approximately 35,000 residents, oversees nearly a dozen municipal pages. He stated that more than half of the city’s communication relies on directing residents to website information. Starks instructed staff to stop embedding links in main posts and instead place URLs in the comments section. He also created a graphic to inform followers of the change. "When you have an official governmental entity that is trying to get out in some instances very, very, important information, and we're being paywalled by Facebook all because we're trying to post a link, that's a problem," Starks said.

Nonprofit organizations are experiencing similar constraints. Bethany English, co-president of the East Side Pawject in Indianapolis, found last week that she could not include her website link in a post about a pet food pantry event. Her page, which has just under 1,000 followers, had already used its two monthly link allowances. An "expert" plan allowing 20 links would cost her $150 monthly. English is considering using dedicated Facebook events or asking board members to share links from personal profiles, which remain exempt from the limits.

Meta has tested paid linking for nearly a year, initially through Meta Verified and now via its AI-focused Meta One plans. The $14.99 tier offers no extra Facebook links. The $49.99 tier allows eight links, the $149.99 tier allows 20, and the $499.99 tier provides unlimited access. Jeff Bannister, marketing manager at SparkPoint, a North Carolina nonprofit, called the $50 price for eight links "crazy." He said the return on investment "seems almost negative" and is exploring ways for local groups to share information outside the platform.

Interviewed individuals reported confusion regarding the rules. Some users could still post links in comments while others could not. Meta’s plan descriptions and help center pages do not explicitly state that the link restriction is a test. David Diskin, president of California Freethought Day, was quoted prices ranging from $40 for eight links to $399 for unlimited access days before his organization's annual event in Sacramento. The restriction was lifted this week without explanation. "It wasn't until after our big fundraiser had passed that they fixed the problem," Diskin said.

A Meta spokesperson said the company is "testing whether sharing links on Facebook should be part of the Meta One subscription." In an update on October 23, 2026, the spokesperson noted that pages must list "nonprofit" in the category section for Meta’s systems to recognize them. It remains unclear why organizations that state their status elsewhere or use Meta’s fundraising tools are not identified.

Meta has described Meta One as unlocking "more specialized capabilities" and AI features. Adding a URL to a post is one of Facebook's oldest functions and does not require AI tokens. For some users, tying this basic function to a subscription feels like a cash grab.