Meta is working to develop virtual coins- “Zuck bucks”, for the users of Facebook and Instagram as part of a suite of its products designed to reduce the platforms’ dependence on advertising in the future metaverse.
Facebook’s mother, Meta, is planning to introduce a range of virtual products – including digital tokens and “creator coins” – to diversify income and vivify its user base, which is increasingly being eaten into by TikTok.
Regardless of Meta remaining the dominant social media network provider globally – its revenues rose 37% to $11 8bn in 2021 as advertisers clamoured to reach the 4.9 billion monthly active users of Facebook and Instagram – TikTok has also established a huge non-ads business based on in-app purchases and e-commerce.
Meta is now looking for ways to monetise its user base more than before.
Products being looked at include “social tokens” or “reputation tokens”, which could be used as rewards by users. It is also looking at “creator coins”, which could be used by influencers on Instagram.
TikTok uses a tipping system whereby fans can buy its coins to then buy gifts to give to their favourite creators. Creators can also buy coins to use tools such as Promote to boost a TikTok video’s profile, increasing viewers or followers.
The initiatives, led by Facebook’s financial arm, Meta Financial Technologies, follow the company’s ill-fated foray into attempting to create a global cryptocurrency, a project called Libra and later Diem, which was abandoned earlier this year after issues with US regulators.
That was not the first time Facebook had looked to move into the world of virtual finance. In 2009 it launched Facebook Credits to facilitate in-app purchases in the then highly popular games such as Zynga’s FarmVille. While successful, it was shut four years later after Facebook’s international growth made for costly foreign currency conversions.
Meta is also looking to enter the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), with plans to allow their integration into Instagram and Facebook.
As banking innovation continues to expand across Africa, the role of effective regulation has never…
Moyo, a South African digital consultancy firm, has partnered with Dell Technologies to introduce an…
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has provisionally revoked the license of Banxso, a South…
The Korea Electronics Association (KEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kenya to…
Sei, a blockchain purpose-built to address the unique challenges of decentralized exchanges (DEXes), has emerged…
EOS Data Analytics (EOSDA), a leading global provider of AI-driven satellite imagery analytics, has launched…
