Facebook Launches Paid Online Events Across 20 Countries – While Criticizing Apple for Refusing to Lower its 30% “App Store Tax”

• Small business owners and individual creators can now organize and host paid online events via Facebook.
• The social media network has decided not to collect fees, allowing its users to keep 100% of their revenue on the Web and Android.
• On iOS, Apple still takes a 30% cut – as the company has declined to lower its fees, even after being directly asked by Facebook.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, numerous restrictions and distancing mandates are still in place across the world. As could have been expected, tech giants are trying to find new ways to assist their users. One of those companies is Facebook, now offering a way for its users to organize and host paid online events.

As the company notes, both business organizations and individual creators have been quickly turning to online tools to reach new customers and audiences. One of those tools is Facebook’s Pages, with live broadcasts doubling during the last couple of months. As a way to help businesses and creators generate revenue via Pages, there's now an option to combine marketing, payment, and live video. Starting today, paid events are available on Facebook Live. The same feature should soon become available via Messenger Rooms for "more personal and interactive gatherings."

This new feature is available in 20 countries across the world. However, to take advantage of these paid online events, businesses and individuals need to meet Facebook’s partner monetization policies. There's also a newly published page where anyone can check whether they qualify and if they can get access to Facebook's paid online events.

Image Credits: Facebook.

Additionally, the social media giant has decided not to collect fees from paid online events for at least the next year. This means that when it comes to online transactions as well as transactions done on Android, users will get to keep 100% of the revenue they generate by hosting paid online events. However, the situation is different on iOS.

As per the company’s statement, Apple has dismissed Facebook’s request to assist small business owners. This means that on iOS, Apple’s 30% “App Store tax” still applies. In other words, small business owners and creators will receive 70% of their revenue.

As of right now, Apple didn’t comment on Facebook’s accusations. However, we’re sure the Cupertino-based company has a lot on its plate right now. During the last couple of months, we’ve heard plenty about Apple’s alleged anti-competitive behavior. The company has recently been fined by the French anti-competitive authority. And in addition to that, the EU Commission has launched its own investigation targeting Apple. And lastly, the company is currently being attacked by Epic Games, after Fortnite got banned from the iOS App Store following an update that tried to bypass Apple’s payment method.