Would You Pay For a Facebook Post?

Facebook is something we all have in common, because everyone has one. After you meet someone for the first time, it is acceptable to add them as a friend on Facebook. Even if it is likely that you will never meet that person again, you can always go back and “catch up” with them by viewing their profile. Most of the time, unless you really interact with them online, their stories and posts will rarely appear on your newsfeed. This is because Facebook uses an algorithm called “Edgerank” to determine exactly what’s on your feed by what you do most on Facebook (view friend’s photos, comment or like certain posts, profiles you view). Edgerank is calculated by Affinity (relationship with you and the friend), Weight (The value of the post), and Time Decay (How long the post has been up). This formula keeps your 500+ friends in a filter with only the most relevant stories appearing on your special wall.

Now, what if the person you met one time started appearing on your feeds all the time, yet you never viewed their content nor did it gain a lot of activity. Somehow, you keep seeing their irrelevant posts and you cannot understand why. As of October 3^rd that can begin to happen to your Facebook. Recently, the social media giant has said they have given Facebook users the opportunity to pay for promotional ads. For $7 a post, you can make sure everyone is laughing at the same meme, viewing the cutest kitten photo, or have a general understanding that you thought the Avengers was “neat”.

Facebook has received mixed feedback from beta users, but businesses see this as another way to promote what they sell, to what you view the most. According to Jeff Bullas, a Social Media Specialist, 27% of your time spent on Facebook is devoted to reading your newsfeed. In his infographic, he explains how to organically reach users by using the Edgerank algorithm. Although, if the promotional ads catch on, any company you have “liked” will be able to sit at the top of your newsfeed as if they were your best friend. Some people are fond of putting it all out there, others find it obtrusive. How do you feel about this new policy on a professional or personal level? Feel free to express your opinions in the comment box below.