Facebook (News - Alert) is working on a new feature that will allow users to promote their status updates. The feature, Highlight, will display a status update in friends’ news feeds higher up and for longer than a usual post. This could be beneficial for fundraising, missing persons, or other important posts that might get lost in the mix.

Highlight is still being tested, and Facebook is working with different price ranges, from free to a few dollars. If Facebook ends up charging for the service, it will help the company in the long run. With mobile services becoming increasingly popular, Facebook’s mobile website isn’t serving up as many ads.

“We’re constantly testing new features across the site. This particular test is simply to gauge people’s interest in this method of sharing with their friends,” said Mia Garlick, Facebook spokeswoman.

The feature has been introduced to a trial group in New Zealand. Users can choose to promote a certain status update, but they don’t have the option of choosing the exact percentage of Facebook friends that will see it. Choosing to highlight a status ensures that it is more visible to more of your friends.

The way the Facebook newsfeeds algorithm works now, posts appear in newsfeeds depending on how many other friends have liked the update, commented on it, or how close a member is to the person posting. With Highlight, your Facebook newsfeed may just become bombarded with whoever can afford to promote their updates.

A Facebook spokesperson confirmed that highlighted posts will include the tag (News - Alert) “highlighted” next to the like and comment buttons.

Students, in the Ponte Vedra High Business and Marketing Academy in Florida, are learning how to use social media as a marketing tool. Last year, PGA Tour representatives met with one of their teachers and formed a good working relationship that benefits the students, giving them a practical application of lessons learned in class by serving as social media volunteers at The Players.