Facebook is testing a new feature that allows users to pay between 40 cents and $2 to highlight posts they want to make sure their friends see inside of their Facebook news feeds.
The new option is being tested in New Zealand where a user who spotted the new feature thought it was a hoax or scam of some sort.
A Facebook rep confirmed the company’s test:
“We’re constantly testing new features across the site,” and “this particular test is simply to gauge people’s interest in this method of sharing with their friends.”
Facebook is also looking at making some of the highlights free to attract users to the system, while the rep adds:
“We’re going to see a lot more ideas like this where they are testing out different ways to try to make money.”
From an engagement stance the move makes sense, after all only 12% of users typically see a Facebook status update and one study found that the average wall post only lasts about 3 hours before it runs its lifecycle.
As a new parent I see this feature being big among parents who constantly post pictures of their children. It almost shouts “look at my kid.”
Charging customers to highlight posts is nothing new, Tumblr several months ago began charging its blog users $1 to highlight posts within their Tumblr accounts.
Would you be willing to pay up to $2 to have certain Facebook posts highlighted for ALL of your friends to see?
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