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In a move set to revolutionize the digital content landscape in Kenya, Meta has announced that it will now allow creators in the country to monetize their Facebook content. This development is poised to unlock new revenue streams for Kenyan content creators, enhancing their ability to produce high-quality, engaging content while contributing to the growth of the local digital economy.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Meta announced that the introduction of In-Stream Ads on Facebook and Facebook Ads on Reels will allow creators to earn money by producing original videos and growing their community.

Moon Baz, Meta’s Global Partnerships Lead for Africa, Middle East, and Türkiye, stated that these features will enable Kenyan creators to monetize their content and generate income

She said it will help grow the creative business in the country. “Every day, we’re inspired by the incredible African creators who use Facebook to tell their stories, connect with others, and bring people together.

This expansion will empower eligible creators in Kenya’s vibrant creative industry to earn money, setting a high bar for creativity worldwide and making Meta’s family of apps the one-stop-shop for all creators,” Baz said.

Kenyan creators have long been at the forefront of innovative digital content, leveraging platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to reach global audiences. However, the introduction of monetization options for short-form videos on Facebook is a significant milestone.

This change aligns with Facebook’s broader strategy to compete with other social media giants in the short-form video space, such as TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Facebook’s new monetization features include in-stream ads, brand collaborations, and fan support options such as Stars, a virtual currency that fans can purchase and send to their favorite creators.

These ads come in various forms: Pre-roll Ads that play before the video starts, Mid-roll Ads that appear during the video, Image Ads displayed as static images below the content, and Post-roll Ads shown after the video ends.

For Facebook Reels, ads are integrated into the short video format, allowing creators to earn money based on the performance of their Reels.

To be eligible for these monetization options, creators must be at least 18 years old, have over 30,000 followers, have accumulated over 1 million minutes of watch time in the past 60 days, and have published at least 5 videos on their page.

By May 2023, Kenya had more than 14 million Facebook users, making up 24.4 percent of the population. Women comprised almost 44 percent of the users. The largest group of Facebook users in Kenya were males aged 18 to 24, representing 21.3 percent of the total user base. The ability to earn money from content could encourage more people to pursue careers in digital content creation, thereby stimulating economic growth and job creation.

In March, President William Ruto met with the Meta team and content creators to discuss monetizing their content on Facebook. He announced that Meta’s platforms, Facebook and Instagram, would begin paying Kenyan digital creators through M-Pesa.

Ruto mentioned that the Meta team had already tested this method and confirmed its functionality. Once the eligibility program is rolled out, creators will start receiving payments via the mobile money platform.

“I’m thrilled that monetization will be available through M-Pesa. Many have wondered how to achieve this, as not all content creators have credit cards or other payment methods. It’s great to hear that Meta has tested this, and it works,” Ruto said.

By providing new revenue streams and opportunities for growth, Meta’s move not only enhances the digital content landscape but also helps to contribute to the broader digital economy.