Facebook (FB) Experimenting with $1 Fee to Send Messages...if You're Relevant

Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) is playing the gatekeeper a little too hard lately.

According to an update from the company's blog, there will be a new filter for your Inbox for those of "economic" interest...friends, family, etc. For those that Facebook determines aren't of interest to you, the sender of the message will need to pay a dollar ($1) to put that message in your Inbox.

Currently, the fee is being tested in a small number of markets.

Courtesy of CNET, here's a great description Facebook gave of an event you might typically find on Facebook:

"This test is designed to address situations where neither social nor algorithmic signals are sufficient. For example, if you want to send a message to someone you heard speak at an event but are not friends with, or if you want to message someone about a job opportunity, you can use this feature to reach their Inbox. For the receiver, this test allows them to hear from people who have an important message to send them."

Some at Facebook say this will also encourage more relevant messages. (So, no more responding with, "K." Okay?)

Whether or not this will roll out or be adopted by a larger audience is in flux. Users will find out eventually, vowing to "never use Facebook again" in the process...

....nah! Shares are down modestly late Thursday.