Facebook rolls out new paid events feature
Facebook is launching a new events feature that will let page owners and event organizers create paid online events to try to fill the gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic. FB Page owners can create an online event, set a price, promote the event, collect payment and host the event, all in one place while adhering to social distancing norms.
In a post, Facebook officials said, “To support small businesses and creators, Facebook will not collect any fees from paid online events for at least the next year. For transactions on the web, and on Android in countries where we have rolled out Facebook Pay, small businesses will keep 100% of the revenue they generate from paid online events."
Facebook also criticized Apple’s 30 per cent tax policy with regards to this latest feature. Apple requires all apps to use its payments system for in-app payments while deducting 30 per cent tax from the payments made through the apps. The feature is meant to help small businesses earn through these events from the platform. The company said that it will not collect any fees from online paid events and will absorb all costs on Android and web. However, for transactions on iOS devices, businesses will only receive 70 per cent of the revenue from their events due to Apple’s 30 per cent tax policy.
Facebook has rolled out this feature keeping in mind the challenges of shifting in-person events to online platform. It is a costly affair and businesses shouldn’t have to worry about fees charged by various other platforms.
Now, Pages in 20 countries around the world including India that meet our partner monetisation policies can start charging for online events, making it easier for millions of people and small businesses to make money on Facebook.
