Facebook considers charging to highlight posts

@ 2012/05/14
Social networking site Facebook is considering charging users who want their more important posts highlighted.

According to Stuff.co.nz the system is being tested with users being charged $2 to "highlight" important posts so they are more visible.

A man in Whangarei, New Zealand said he was given the option of paying to highlight status updates and picture posts with a yellow background when he logged on to his Facebook page. He thought it was a scam and contacted the press.

When members of the Whangarei press contacted Facebook its spokeswoman Mia Garlick confirmed it was a new "feature" it was testing.

Facebook was trialling the feature at a range of different prices including offering it "free", she said. This means that during the trial members may be asked different amounts, or nothing, to use it.

It is the first time that Facebook has attempted to make money from postings by regular users and comes as it is gearing up for a public listing.

It is not clear if the plan will be tested anywhere else.

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