Facebook to charge users for contacting people who are not friends

Facebook is planning to charge users if they want to send a message to people who are not part of their network on the site.

At present, people can message anyone on the site for free.

The social networking giant is testing a system whereby a user will have to pay to send a message to someone who is not a “friend” or a “friend of a friend” with the cost rising depending on how well known their target is.

A spokeswoman for Facebook confirmed the fee involved would be higher if the person being contacted is a public figure, based on the number of followers they have.

She added this wasn’t the only factor in pricing however saying it would also depend on the country the person is in and whether they have already received paid messages recently.

She would not comment on the prices involved but it is being reported that it could be up to €12 for well known figures.

“We are testing a number of price points in several countries to establish the optimal fee that signals importance. Part of that test involves charging higher amounts for public figures, based on the number of followers they have.This is still a test and these prices are not set in stone."

Facebook says it is considering introducing the system to prevent spam.

At present, if you contact people you are not friends with on the site, the message will go to the individuals’ ‘Other’ folder rather than their Inbox.

Users do not check their ‘Other’ folder as frequently as their Inbox, according to the company, so this new system will allow someone to send a message directly to an Inbox, for a small fee.

“Our aim was to find a way to do this that didn't become a vehicle for spam. To do this we began testing a system of paid messages. The rationale is that applying a small fee will dissuade people from sending spam messages and ensure that these are genuinely important,” the spokeswoman said

“This just gives people another option to contact non-friends and ensure the message goes into their main inbox, rather than the ‘Other’ folder which people don’t check as often. The test doesn’t change or prevent anything you can already do; it’s just an optional extra.”

Facebook began trialling the system in Ireland and in other countries on March 28th having begun testing the water in the US in December.

The spokeswoman was unable to say what reaction there had been to the charges in the US as “the system was still being tested.”

It is being tested among ten per cent of users in each country. Users will be prompted to enter payment details should they wish to avail of the service.