Summary of the eRumor:  
Various emails and Facebook group pages say that the popular Internet social network will be charging members for its use. Some say that the fees may run up to £$14.99  (about $24.13 U.S.) per month.  Later versions say that Facebook has released a new price grid for members with monthly fees as low as $3.99.
 

The Truth:  
In September 2011 Facebook made some modifications to their social network site which sparked an old hoax to rise from the ashes.  This eRumor began circulating in 2010 saying that users would be charged $24.13 per month to access Facebook. It reemerged in July 2011 and later again the following September after the popular site added some modifications to their pages.

The social network site does not need to charge members monthly fees because it makes most of its revenue from advertising, which is viewed by more than 800 million active users.   According to a September 20, 2011 article in Bloomberg, the company is expected to earn $4.2 billion in advertising revenue and is expected to make $470 million from the sale of game credits.  In 2010 advertising sales amounted to $1.86 billion and game credit sales earned Facebook $140 million.

Addressing the original hoax, a Facebook spokesperson said, “We have no plans to charge users for Facebook's basic services. Facebook is a free service for its 350 million users,” according to a January 12, 2010 article in England's Telegraph.   The article said that the rumor "about Facebook charging for its content appears to have come from a hoax email circulated on the site.'  

updated 09/26/11

“It's official. signal at 12:20 it even passed on tv. Facebook will start charging this summer. If you copy this on your wall your icon will turn blue and facebook will be free for you. Please pass this message if not your count will be deleted. p.s, this is serious the icone turns blue, So please put this on your wall”

Version 3:

FACEBOOK JUST RELEASED THEIR PRICE GRID FOR MEMBERSHIP. $9.99 PER MONTH FOR GOLD MEMBER SERVICES, $6.99 PER MONTH FOR SILVER MEMBER SERVICES, $3.99 PER MONTH FOR BRONZE MEMBER SERVICES

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