Pakistani content creators can now monetise their content through the “Facebook Stars” feature, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced on Saturday.
The minister tweeted a video announcing the launch of the monetisation feature for Pakistani content developers from Singapore, where he was on a two-day visit. Following his visit to the Asia-Pacific headquarters of Meta, which owns leading social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, the minister expressed his gratitude towards the team.
FM Bilawal, calling the launch of Facebook Stars “big news”, explained how the programme will help content creators generate income back home.
With this new feature now live in 🇵🇰 creators can monetize their Facebook content. The more stars they get the more money they will earn. Hoping the youth of Pakistan in particular will get more productive use out of their social media. https://t.co/RzewgYv8yQ https://t.co/UX20W0MmQH pic.twitter.com/7KmrJt5UWe
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 10, 2022
Through Facebook Stars, creators will earn money with each star they receive from their fans. The feature allows creators to monetise a range of content across Meta platforms, including videos, text posts, and photos. The viewers can send the stars to creators while they are streaming on a given platform.
“We are encouraged to see Meta’s contribution in supporting local businesses in Pakistan and opening up different ways for Pakistani content creators to generate meaningful, reliable revenue on their platforms,” said FM Bilawal. “We hope the Stars program will create new opportunities to monetise and play a role in strengthening the country’s digital economy.”
A statement by Meta said Facebook Stars will allow fans to send digital goods to support creators.
“Helping creators to build community and turn their passions into professions is a key part of our continued investment in Pakistan,” said Jordi Forney, director of emerging markets at Meta. “Today, we are thrilled to announce that Facebook Stars is open to all eligible creators in Pakistan, so more people can start earning while they grow their creativity, audience and careers.”
Google registers with SECP; likely to establish liaison office
A day before Facebook Stars was officially launched, reports, shortly confirmed by IT Minister Syed Aminul Haque, emerged that Google had registered as a company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). The registration of global tech conglomerates like Google, Meta, and Twitter was one of the requirements laid out in the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules, 2021, commonly known as the Social Media Rules.
The controversial set of regulations attracted widespread attention and critical scrutiny from digital rights activists, who argued the Rules would further enable the state to acquire data on citizens from leading social media platforms and jeopardise users’ safety and privacy.
The IT minister told Dawn.com that a Google delegation from Singapore would visit Pakistan this week and “likely announce the establishment of a functional office here”.
According to Haque, short-video giant TikTok has also agreed to set up a liaison office in Pakistan.
