Facebook – now Meta – is still not happy with Apple, and its insistence on taking a 30% cut of fan subscriptions, along with any other in-app purchase.
And it’s gradually finding ways to fight back, and help users subvert Apple’s transaction fees. Its latest element on this front relates to fan subscriptions, and providing new options to ensure that creators get paid their full share of fan money.
As explained by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg:
“As we build for the metaverse, we’re focused on unlocking opportunities for creators to make money from their work. The 30% fees that Apple takes on transactions make it harder to do that, so we’re updating our Subscriptions product so now creators can earn more.”
The main new addition on this front is a new re-direct process that will help creators guide potential subscribers to sign-up outside of the Facebook app, thereby subverting Apple’s 30% cut.
As you can see in this image, Facebook has added a new, personalized promotional link within Creator Studio which creators can then share, via email or in text updates, to re-direct subscribers outside the app.
As explained by Facebook:
“Starting today, we’re offering creators the ability to direct people to a website to complete their Subscriptions purchase using Facebook Pay. When people purchase Subscriptions from this website on web or mobile, creators will be able to keep 100% of the money they earn, excluding taxes.”
I mean, Facebook’s not even being subtle about the intended purpose here, which will no doubt rankle Apple, which has already faced off with Facebook over its fees on purchases in the app, as noted, as well as its advanced iOS privacy updates that have had a significant impact on Facebook’s ad business.
There’s no love lost between the two tech giants, and it’ll be interesting to see if and how Apple looks to retaliate against Facebook’s latest attempt to subvert its revenue collection process.
The update is among several new changes coming to Facebook’s Fan Subscription tools, which it’s looking to push ahead of the holidays, where users will likely have more …….