Facebook now tests paid news articles. This feature lets publishers charge for access inside Facebook. People might see these articles soon. The test includes a small group of US publishers. Publishers choose which articles require payment. Facebook handles the payment process. Users see a prompt before buying. They pay for full access to that article. This is a trial only. Facebook wants publisher feedback. The company seeks new ways to support news. Many publishers struggle with online revenue. Facebook believes subscriptions could help. Publishers keep most of the money. Facebook takes a small share. Reports say Facebook keeps about 10 percent. The rest goes to the publisher. Publishers set their own article prices. Facebook does not control the pricing. Users must actively choose to pay. They are not forced into subscriptions. This is different from some other models. The test is very limited right now. Only a few users in the US might see it. Facebook selected specific publishers for this phase. The company did not name these partners publicly. Success depends on user willingness to pay. Facebook will watch the results closely. Changes might happen based on the test. The test explores paid content directly on Facebook. It does not involve Facebook’s broader news tab. The focus is individual articles within the main feed. Publishers need sustainable income sources. Facebook aims to be a partner in this. This test is one possible approach. Results will guide future decisions. Facebook continues talking with news organizations. Finding solutions is important for both sides. The test runs for an undisclosed period. Facebook will share learnings later.
(Facebook Tests Subscription-Based News Articles)