In what they are calling “a small experiment,” Facebook announced on Thursday that a portion of their U.S. users would now be able to message people they aren’t connected to via the social networking site. The fee for sending such a message: $1.
Currently, messages from non-friends get sent to an often ignored “Other” folder that was launched in 2010. Facebook routes messages there that they deem irrelevant based on your social connections.
Facebook says this function will help users who want to connect after events or for jobs.
“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,” Facebook said in their press release.
Facebook also said messages re-routed from the Other inbox to the main Inbox would be limited to one a week. The test is a part of a revamp Facebook is launching for Messages, which you can read more about here.
