ISLAMABAD – Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times in May 2020claim that Facebook has started charging users for creating new accountsand interacting on the platform. The claim is false; a spokesperson forFacebook told AFP that use of the platform remains free of charge.
The claim was published on Facebook here linkMay 23, 2020. It has been shared more then 200 times.A screenshot taken on May 26, 2020, of the misleading post by Nay Myo
Part of the post’s Burmese caption translates to English as: “Previously itwas very easy to open a Facebook account. You can get a Facebook accountonly if you have an email address or phone number. Now, Mark won’t grantyou an account easily. It costs 4 USD (over 5,000 Myanmar kyats) to get anaccount. Before, only ads could be boosted by payment previously but itseems Mark has changed his policy before the world economic crisis.”
The post also claims that Facebook will require payment for creating newpages and groups, as well as publishing and sharing content. Alleged costsrange from 1,000 Myanmar kyats for a text post and 2,000 Myanmar kyats fora post with a photo. The new income, the post claims, will be donated toCOVID-19 vaccine research.
An identical claim was also shared hundreds of times in other Facebookposts; for instance here link herelink.
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The claim is false.
“Facebook does not charge people to use Facebook,” a company spokespersonsaid in an email to AFP on May 25, 2020. “Instead, we charge advertisers toshow ads on the Facebook family of apps and technologies. This helps usmake Facebook available to everyone without charging people for access toit.”
Facebook also maintains a webpage herelink itshelp center that stated the platform is free of charge for users. “No, wedon’t charge you to use Facebook,” the page tells users.
