So let’s look at some of the benefits of a pay system.

With Google, I’d be happy to pay a per-search fee because it would mean that I could get ad-free searches. That would be nice because it would increase my confidence that the searches were unbiased.

With Facebook, I’d pay a monthly fee not only to get rid of the ads but also to be flagged as a “Premium” member. As long as Facebook accounts are free, spammers can generate fake accounts and send me garbage messages. But if an account costs a few bucks a month and I can filter my mail like this: “Only Accept mail from non-friends (strangers) if they are Premium Members and their account is more than 3 months old”. This would prevent spammers from sending me garbage because their cost of sending mail is no longer free.

In each of these examples, the presence of a Pay-Model actually becomes a positive feature.

I suspect that IF this were to happen, the pay-model would initially be optional but they would slowly turn up the heat over the course of a few years making the paid model more and more attractive - even necessary.

I don’t think these people and journalists are as blatantly wrong as you think.

The original group was a scam to deliver malware. (Apparently the reason why Facebook removed it, not because of objection to policy discussion)

there are other follow-on groups that are by well-meaning (but clueless) individuals protesting what they think is a real thing.

http://thenextweb.com/2009/12/28/133000-member-facebook-group-big-scam/

If Facebook were to switch to a pay system, would they be able to recover from their losses? Everyone uses it because it’s popular and it’s free!

I’d be willing to pay if such a model gave me more features (like text formatting in wall post, embedding videos and photos into my notes, etc.), more control over my account, more control over what info applications can acess and no ads! Sign me up!!!!

if it not free…i will not joint it..truely facebook is a medium for me to connect to my friend over the world…

If Facebook were to switch to a pay system, would they be able to recover from their losses? Everyone uses it because it’s popular and it’s free!

I don’t have a problem with garbage messages! I certainly wouldn’t pay to access Facebook I would move to a free site such as MySpace or even create a free webpage via some other site.

Facebook’s main source of income are their ads, just like Google’s. If they charged a fee for using their website, Facebook would lose users therefor less people to advertise to and less cash from ads. That would be just silly.

I would like someone to please confirm if this is true or not. I appreciate this message Nick but I think most people will want to either confirm it or have it disproved once and for all. I don’t know how to directly reach them myself or else I would and I would personally send it to all groups that are speculating otherwise. I just want to confirm if it is true or not. No more guessing.

For the past years now,facebook as been more effective&collective.if they now think of charging,there’re more sites pple ‘ll log into,so there4 i think its not gonna help,cos billions of pple re more aware of these particular sites

comes on guys this is BS, facebook is worth like what now, 30 billion dollars? as if they need any money…. if a minimum of 50 million usres are left with the fee that would make 250 million dollars a month… bit greedy dont you think?

They would go the way of the newpaper. Papers use to print stories as a side to stuff advertisements,which were their main source of income. When they started charging for newspapers, they began shooting themselves in the foot. But, google and facebook on the other hand offer something free and shove ads down your throat. which is all fine and good, remember free tv, commercials yup. It’s all about the money. Facebook is doing it right by not charging. They get the people-numbers to boast to their perspective advertisers and the buck start roll’n in. They know that even if a few decide to pay, the numbers would drop so bad that no one would see the need to adverstise on facebook.

NOW, somebody need to do something about cable/pay TV and all their ads, I don’t like paying to watch advertisements.

I am so glad facebook isnt goig to charge has i am serverly disabled so facebook is a lifeline because its the nly i can make friends

I use this site very little! If it’s going to cost, kiss my ___ good-bye. Not worth it to me! If they don’t raise rates I’ll still be here. It must be the American way to sucker you in and then raise rates if this were true. Not for me. Happens with almost every free site eventually. I might have been more interested, but it appears we might have to pay for this site sooner or later. Write me letters if that happens. The U.S.P.S. needs the money! If this doesn’t increase I’ll still be here. Good Luck Facebook, hope you make a wise decision.

actually during an interview with the creator of FB he said that they are not making enough money but he didnt say yes or no to the question. so it would seem by him saying they arent making enough money that they are definatly considering charging a fee.

also the new privacy changes are a MAJOR JOKE

just because they are worth alot doesnt mean they will be less greedy. in fact they would be greedier since when ppl start making a lot of money all they want it more more more

There are no possibilities that they would be charging for service. It would make the vast majority of users leave and facebook would eventually become bankrupt due to the lack of visitors.

I’m going to start a completely unfounded rumour and then get everybody to waste their time discussing it. Here we go;

Myspace will soon start paying people to join.

Facebook will never charge for membership and here is why. Everyone talking about willing to pay to be some sort of ‘premium’ member….come on LOOK AT THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS. You think you can pay facebook 4 or 5 dollars a month and they will stop advertising on your page?! Do you have any idea how much facebook makes from ADs on their site. That is how FB makes money and the more people on facebook the more they can charge companies to advertise on their pages. So the last thing facebook would EVER want to do is 1. limit the number of members on their site and thereby lowering amounts they could charge advertisers or 2. EVER creating a site that had no ads on specific pages.
SO FB would lose money by charging.

I would leave..I cannot afford it and neither can others.I will not be alone on this. I pay for internet already…I don’t think so. I will go to different social sites that spring up until they start charging,and then I’ll leave.I’ll contact people somewhere else..People atr on Facebook cause it’s free..greed,greed. If they think because there is so many people on there now,and think they snaged paying customers,they’ve gotta a big suprize if they try and charge…

I would not want to see Facebook charge a membership. In this economy, it is nice that sites like this, that you can keep in touch with others, is free. I would have to leave cause I won’t pay for it. Hopefully it won’t happen and it’s just a rumor that seems to circulate periodically.

I think Facebook should charge money…that way it could weed out some of the the harm that is causes to families….
I lost my husband to Facebook…due to his “new relationships” with these people of the past….Affairs started like crazy….and before Facebook…he was normal, loving husband….I thought our life was perfect..but I was wrong… Facebook changed my world forever in a negative way….I lost my husband who I still love dearly…..but he chose the sins of Facebook over me. Why do people act like cheap sluts on Facebook? I will never understand….
But Thanks Facebook…..For destroying my life.

allison, you need to get a grip on REALITY!!!!!

Christopher, I agree too… Allison, you really need to get a grip. Facebook was NOT the reason your husband was “looking around.” In fact, to be honest, Facebook was simply a vehicle he used to get what he wanted. If you proceed into future relationships thinking the way you do, the only way to preserve your future partner would be to lock him in a pit…

As for Facebook charging a fee. Well, there are multiple angles and I believe Facebook could offer a free service and a premium service too. That way, get people hooked on the free service and allow them to step up to the premium. If the premium does not work for the individual, then allow a step back to the free (only loosing the premium benefits). Facebook has become the leader in social networking, as Google has become the leader in search engines. I tip my hat to Facebook…

If Facebook does decide to charge, well, I am not going to remain. I have a life that does not revolve around Facebook. Now, I am off to Facebook in search of other lonely people…possibly Allison’s ex-husband. Allison, as for sins you mentioned, I am still laughing, “Forgive me father for I have sinned, I have Facebook’d.”

Good day all!

It is understandable why people would want to pay for their advertisments. People pay for Cable TV that is inundated with advertisments. That doesn’t make them bright people. It makes them market place consumers. And we all know how well that has worked out. Credit card anyone?

Facebook isn’t that dumb, that is why they are where they are.

One time payment of less than USD20.00 is ok. but monthly payment is not ok

First of all stating that facebook won’t charge for their site because it’s a bad business decision is ludicrous. They won’t be the first or last company to shoot themselves in the foot because of a bad business decision.

When I first came upon one of the many polls on this topic I said that I would be more then happy to pay a moderate fee like $1 per month, which was what the poll suggested.

Since that time I have come to change my mind on the topic. A faulty roll out of yet another redesign, “live” feeds that are four hours old or refresh dropping the last few entries, and worst of all, periods where the website is just too slow to be usable, leave me spending less and less time on facebook.

As long as it’s free I won’t cancel my account but I would need to see a huge improvement in service to pay anything for it.

I don’t know what to believe. I enjoy the games and the friendships on Facebook very much. I can use e-mail for personal contacts but I would miss the games. I cannot afford to pay and I won’t. Hope it is just another scam. Time will tell.

It seems in an interview FB not answered “Yes” or “No” on question if they are charging what ever or not, I guess If not it is Ok. But If they do it would be Big mistake by them to loose vast users at a time of decision because there are not Individual ppl in that, but so many Groups in it, as In my social group are here more than 10 thsnd in linked group. after leaving groups like us facebook becomes worhless for this type of just friendship or social activity site., they should think this is not commercial site or from that ppl not making money for that they could ready to pay. I decided that I will stay and wait there till it happens and see all my friends shifted to another safe non chargeable place..

So basically Nick O’Neill your entire claim towards there being a monthly charge or not is completely factless in either direction. This is what we call a logical fallacy. I’m glad you wasted your time posting this.

hey guys just thought id let u know i love you all…
someone cum hav sex with me

allison, i was probably the person that stole ur husband too

hes not the first one