Would You Have Really Paid to Use Facebook?

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Earlier this week, a report was being spread on the internet claiming Facebook will start charging from the 1st of November. It was said that a monthly fee of $2.99 will be paid by every Faceook user and a lot of people believed it was crazy. While majority of Facebook users condemned the alleged plan by Facebook to start charging its users and argued why they would never pay to use Facebook, others confess they would gladly pay the amount to stay on the social network.

Fortunately, the news is fake. In an alleged interview with CNN, Facebook spokesperson, Paul Horner, was quoted to have said these words:

Economic times are tight, the ads on Facebook are not as profitable as we had planned. Our costs are going up as hundreds of thousands of individuals continue to join the site every day. There’s so many pictures of cats, and all of those costs add up, we just can’t foot the bill any longer.

Well, just like it’s on the homepage of Facebook, “It’s free and will always be.” Facebook isn’t going to start charging anyone. The website on which the report first appeared is a satirical website called National Report which claims to be America’s #1 independent news source. A visit to the homepage of the website should give you a deeper idea of the kind of journalism the website practices.

Can you pay to use Facebook?

But come to think of it, would you have agreed to pay if the report was true? Do you love Facebook so much you would be willing to pay $2.99 per month?

When I first heard about this, I said to myself, “This is the end of Facebook as we know it.”

Why I would’ve preferred to close my account instead of paying

I do use Facebook but the truth is this: I would prefer to close my account instead paying a monthly bill of $2.99. Here are five reasons I will never pay to use Facebook.

1. Facebook has my data already… for free.

Facebook knows me already; Facebook has my data; they know my behavior, my likes, dislikes, friends, and everything you can imagine. Facebook knows the websites I visit and Facebook never payed me to get all that information. These data can be used in whatever way it pleases them and this includes giving them over to advertisers to target ads. The other day, I found out Facebook Messenger was keeping a record of my WiFI SSiD and I couldn’t imagine what else Facebook logs.

It’s true that Facebook is free but if you’re not paying for it, you’re not the customer, you’re the product being sold. Facebook users belong to Facebook and that’s the sad reality.

2. Facebook is making a lot from advertisers already.

Facebook is making quite a lot of money from advertisers already. There are so many selfish changes Facebook made recently just to make more money. If you own a fan page, you would’ve noticed that your post reach has decreased considerably over the past few months. Page owners are being forced to advertise and as a matter of fact, you need to pay to reach those fans who like your page.

Charging regular users would’ve been absurd and I would’ve quit Facebook.

3. The platform keeps changing every now and then.

Facebook has an habit of forcing changes down your throat whether you like it or not. Nothing is ever the same and a lot of times, the changes aren’t always desirable.

4. It has always been a distraction anyway.

Oh well, I think this is everybody’s problem. Facebook has always been a pain in the ass and it kills productivity if you work on the internet. Getting rid of it would’ve been just perfect.

5. I’ve always wanted to use Google+.

For a blogger like me, Google+ has a lot more potentials than Facebook. You would probably understand my point as well if you’re into social marketing. I’ve always wanted to build my circles and really work on my Google+ page but Facebook wouldn’t let me.

Google+ is a great alternative I would start using effectively if Facebook actually starts charging.