On August 4, Facebook announced its plan to support small businesses that are being hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. The social network giant wanted small business owners to host paid events like networking sessions, cooking classes, workout sessions, and happy hours on their Facebook page. Demand for these kinds of online events has soared since the coronavirus hit.
Facebook claimed it is giving page owners “the ability for businesses, creators, educators, and media publishers to earn money from online events on Facebook. Now Page owners can create an online event, set a price, promote the event, collect a payment, and host the event, all in one place.”
This plan was “designed to make it easier for millions of people and small businesses to make money on Facebook.”
On August 14, Facebook amended its statement saying, “We asked Apple to reduce its 30% App Store tax or allow us to offer Facebook Pay so we could absorb all costs for businesses struggling during COVID-19. Unfortunately, they dismissed both our requests and SMBs will only be paid 70% of their hard-earned revenue. While Facebook is waiving fees for paid online events we will make other fees clear in the product.”
