Facebook plans to charge users to log off

Social News: In a further bid to monetise the social networking site, Facebook is to start charging users who want to log off and be left in peace for five minutes.

Starting next week, users that want to log out of Facebook to escape the relentless stream of oversharing by people they barely know will have to enter their credit card details and accept a £10 charge. Alternatively, they can buy three logouts for £25.

Simply closing your browser window will trigger an alarm and a concerned, slightly aggressive, phone call from site founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Facebook says the move will help users transition to an ‘always on’ interaction with the site.

“Facebook is all about connection,” said a spokesman.

“We want to teach users that disconnecting and stepping away from your friends venting about mildly inconvenient events in their life is a bad thing, so we will punish you financially. Ideally we would punish you physically, but apparently there are laws about doing that. For now.”

Story: Simon Swatman