Mashable reporter Chris Taylor tried to contact CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and was informed that his message will become important for $100. It was a test. An “extreme price point to see what works to filter spam”, said a Facebook spokesperson. The original idea was to charge per post; in December 2012, there was a trial-run -- charging $1 for messaging non-friends.
There are limits. You’re allowed one paid message, per recipient, per week. In a blog post, Facebook says they’re helping organize users’ messages. If you‘d like to network or apply for a job, Facebook encourages you to “use this feature [and] reach their inbox. This test allows the receiver [or employer] to hear from people [with] important messages”. Otherwise, your message will collect dust in another folder.
The Fiscal Times reminds us that charges 'per hello' is nothing new. LinkedIn, a network for professionals, also charges for introductions. But who gets paid? Should the CEO or recipient of the message collect most of the fee? Should receivers set the pay standard? In short, if they really want to be your friend (or get a word in with you), they have to pay. Oh, the option for receivers to waiver a socializing fee was also presented.
Out of 1.06 billion active users on Facebook, mobile users surpassed desktop users for the first time. More than 600 million say what’s on their mind daily, and 157 million do so from mobile devices. With the increasing popularity of mobile devices, Facebook -- the largest social network in the world -- took a leap from 14 to 23% in mobile ads. Walmart had 50 million ads!
Other projects that may find their way to your inbox or newsfeed are Facebook Gifts and Graph Search. The first charges a fee to send messages, real or virtual goods, to friends. As of now, Graph Search isn't mobile-ready, but in due time, you’ll be able to scour your extended network for people more like you (based on profiles) -- for a fee of course.
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