Facebook announced in December that it would begin testing out a new paid messages service to filter spam messages on the site. Typically when you message someone outside of your Facebook network, the message gets sent and lands in the "Other" section of the Facebook mailbox. Facebook has determined that most users don't even know this exists and rarely ever check for messages in this area.

The "Other" section was created as a place for spam messages to be filtered similar to spam folders in email clients. When Facebook announced the paid messaging feature in December 2012 it wanted to determine whether adding a financial signal would improve its formula for relevant and useful messages to be delivered to member's inboxes. It was also designed as one more way for Facebook to raise some revenue.

The plan on raising revenue will work if how much Facebook is currently charging members to message Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is any indication. If Mark Zuckerberg isn't in your Facebook network and you feel the need to message him, get ready to shell out $100 for the opportunity. You read that right - Facebook is charging $100 to message Mark Zuckerberg, along with others who Facebook is calling VIPs.

Some of the known VIPs are Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandburg, Facebook CFO David Ebersman, and Digg founder Kevin Rose. All of these VIPs carry a $100 price tag in case you are thinking about messaging them. Facebook also revealed that Facebook members can decline paying the $100 fee and still send a message but the message will end up in "Other" and will probably never be seen.

If you have some money to burn and can't think of anything more practical to do with it than pay $100 for the privilege of messaging Mark Zuckerberg, you can hit the Like button and cough up $100. As for me, I prefer to look the other way.