Facebook Tests Paid Promoted Status Updates

Facebook will take your money in exchange for promoting your status updates.

How much would you pay to have everyone see your Facebook status update? Does $2 work? Facebook likes that, and will accept credit card or Paypal.

The social networking giant is testing "highlighted" status updates in New Zealand, according to the technology work. The pay-to-update scheme was first unveiled by New Zealand-based news site Stuff, and later leapt upon by TechCrunch.

Some users in New Zealand see a "highlight" button to click next to the "like" and "comment" features. When "highlight" is clicked, a window pops up prompting the user to pay $2 via Paypal or credit to ensure the post receives the necessary attention, according to SF Weekly.

The timing is interesting: This is Facebook's first attempt to make money directly off of its users, who pay nothing to register for the site and login, and it comes just as Facebook is shopping its company to investors in preparation for its initial public offering, Stuff pointed out.

Facebook could be worth as much as $90 billion.

In a statement, a Facebook spokeswoman said the website is trying out new things.

"We're constantly testing new features across the site. This particular test is simply to gauge people's interest in this method of sharing with their friends," said Mia Garlick.
 

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us