Facebook tests paid service with $100 fee for message to Zuckerberg
12 Jan 2013
Social networking site Facebook is asking users to pay $100 for sending messages to the company's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and some other select members to ensure that the messages reach their inboxes.
The charge is intended to both raise revenue and reduce spam, according to reports.
Facebook had introduced the scheme in December, charging the sender $1 to ensure that the message reaches the inbox of a Facebook member who is not the sender's friend.
In the process, Facebook also helps users get virtually closer to a VIP, an acquaintance or a stranger, but at a price.
Facebook is taking advantage of the fact that in normal cases, messages sent by unknown users do not directly hit the inboxes of users like Zuckerberg. But, under the pay-by-message scheme, these would now reach Zuckerberg's inbox on Facebook directly.
While many wouldn't buy the idea of paying money to send a message to someone on Facebook, being able to send a message directly to a VIP's inbox would have some takers.