City libraries hit by Facebook link fees

Resident communication channels in Greenville, Texas, have changed after the city library’s Facebook page received a notice limiting its ability to share external links. The page, which serves a city of roughly 35,000 people, was told it could only add links to two posts per month. The limit had already been reached. Any additional links required a paid subscription to Meta One, costing at least $50 per month.

Daniel Starks, the communications manager for Greenville, oversees nearly a dozen city Facebook pages. The library account is identified as a government building and was previously verified by Meta. Starks said that more than half of the city’s digital communication relies on directing residents to information hosted on the official website. To avoid the fee, he instructed staff to stop placing links in the main post body. Instead, URLs are now added to the comments section. He also created a graphic to inform followers of the change.

Starks described the situation as a problem for an official government entity trying to disseminate important information. He noted that the organization is being paywalled simply for trying to post a link. Other small nonprofits are experiencing similar barriers. Bethany English, co-president of the East Side Pawject in Indianapolis, found that she could not add a website link to a post about a pet food pantry event. The monthly link allowance for the group’s page, which has just under 1,000 followers, was already used up.

For English, the "expert" plan that allows 20 links per month costs $150. The group uses the page to help people find pantries, donate, and volunteer. She is considering alternatives, such as using dedicated Facebook events or asking board members to share links from their personal profiles, which are currently exempt from the restrictions.

Meta has tested paid linking for nearly a year. Initially part of Meta Verified, the feature is now a benefit of its AI-focused Meta One plans. The subscription tiers determine access to link sharing. The $14.99 monthly tier includes no extra Facebook link sharing, though it allows a dedicated link page in the Instagram bio. The $49.99 tier permits eight links per month. The $149.99 tier allows 20 links, and only the $499.99 tier offers unlimited access.

Jeff Bannister, marketing manager at SparkPoint in North Carolina, described the cost of $50 for eight links as crazy. He said the return on investment seems almost negative. SparkPoint focuses on public health and social connection in Transylvania County. Bannister is exploring ways for local nonprofits to share information with one another to reduce dependence on Facebook, although he noted that much of the county remains active on the platform.

Interviewees reported confusion regarding the rules. Some pages could 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. Meta has described Meta One as unlocking specialized capabilities and AI features. However, adding a URL to a post is one of Facebook’s oldest functions and does not require AI tokens.

David Diskin, president of California Freethought Day, was informed of the limit earlier this month, days before an annual civic engagement event in Sacramento. He was quoted a price of $40 for eight links, $119 for 20, or $399 for unlimited access. The restriction was lifted this week without an explanation. Diskin noted that the issue was only fixed after the group’s major fundraiser had passed.

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