A Threat to us all

Meta Has Put Links Behind a Paywall — And It Matters More Than You Might Think

This week, Meta quietly rolled out a major change to Facebook: a hard limit on link‑bearing posts. Free accounts now get two link posts per month. After that, you’re blocked from posting unless you subscribe to Meta One at an entry level of nearly $50 a month for 8 posts with links.

Not warned. Not asked. Not consulted. Just blocked.

For creators, authors, small businesses, charities, and community groups, this is seismic. Links are not decoration — they are the lifeblood of the internet. They are how we share our work, our shops, our newsletters, our blogs, our events, our fundraisers, our creativity. They are how we connect with readers, customers, supporters, and communities and share important or interest information with everyone.

And now, Meta has decided that this basic function should be paid for.

Why This Hits Creators Hardest

If you’re an influencer posting photos, you’re unaffected. If you run a meme page, you’re unaffected. If you post family updates, you’re unaffected.

But if you’re an author trying to share your book? A small business linking to your shop? A charity sharing a donation page? A community group posting a resource? A musician sharing a new track? A blogger linking to your latest article?

You’re suddenly told: pay, or stop.

This is not a small change. It’s a structural shift in how Meta wants the internet to work — and who gets to participate.

Why This Should Concern Everyone

The open web depends on links. The ability to move freely between platforms, ideas, creators, and communities is what makes the internet powerful and wonderful. No doubt Facebook itself grew in its early days by individuals of all sorts sharing links.

Putting links behind a paywall is not just greedy — it’s dangerous. It centralises control, restricts discovery, and punishes small voices while privileging those who can afford to pay what is not a small amount.

What I’m Doing

I’m speaking up. I’m writing about it. I’m sharing it across platforms. I’m hoping others with bigger voices will pick it up and amplify it.

This isn’t just about authors. It’s about the future of the internet — and whether it remains open, accessible, and fair.

If you care about the ability to share your work freely, or freely pass on something of interest to someone else, please keep an eye on this change. It matters more than Meta wants you to realise. 25-09-2026 - The battle begins.