Most of us spend an unhealthy amount of time on Facebook, and probably put an equally as unhealthy amount of effort into our posts, but can it really be considered unhealthy if you make money by doing so? Facebook doesn’t offer any way for individual users to make money from their posts, but the company distributed an interesting survey last week which suggested that it’s considering allowing users to ask for donations through their posts. It’s not clear how this new feature would work, or which users would be allowed to use it, but the survey indicated that it’s just one of several new methods of monetizing content that Facebook is exploring at the moment.
Facebook is exploring new ways for individual users to profit from their posts on the network, The Verge has learned. A user survey distributed this week hints at a broad range of ways that users could make money or promote a cause, including a tip jar, branded content, and taking a cut of the ad revenue Facebook earns from posts. The survey also asked users to indicate their interest in a “call to action” button, a way to let followers make donations, and a “sponsor marketplace” to match users with advertisers. It’s unclear whether Facebook is considering making these options available to all users; the language of the survey indicated it is targeted at verified users. The survey was spotted on the page of a verified user with a relatively small following. (OK it was me.) Facebook does not currently offer individual users a way to earn money by posting on Facebook. It has allowed publishers to sell advertising inside its fast-loading Instant Articles format, and recently clarified rules allowing posts sponsored by brands to be shared by verified pages. Facebook is also testing ads within the suggestions that pop up after you watch a video, sharing money with publishers. But recently the company has taken steps to make its publishing tools more widely available. In February the company began letting anyone publish Instant Articles. “It’s still very early, but we’re committed to creating sustainable, long-term monetization models for our partners and we’re listening to feedback,” a Facebook spokeswoman told The Verge.
