Twitter Ban: Facebook, IG Offer Free Packages For Content Creators

In a move aimed at attracting and servicing more social media users in Nigeria, the Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has announced free products for content creators on all Facebook-owned services.

The new packages also cover those that are using both WhatsApp and Instagram platforms for their businesses.

According to the American media magnate, the free products will enable creators to make more money, adding that the offer will be available till year 2023.

In his Facebook post on Monday, Zuckerberg said; “To help more creators make a living on our platforms, we’re going to keep paid online events, fan subscriptions, badges, and our upcoming independent news products free for creators until 2023.

“And when we do introduce a revenue share, it will be less than the 30% that Apple and others take.”

The current development is coming against the backdrop of last week’s suspension of Twitter operations in the country by the Federal Government, which defended its position with allegations of “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.

The action followed Twitter’s deletion of a controversial Civil War post by the President. But many have berated the government’s decision, describing it as restricting Nigerians’ right of expression.

Leading the pack from the international community, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, have also slammed the Presidency’s suspension order on Twitter, warning the government of the likely consequences.

However, the Federal Government has remained unyielding, insisting that Nigeria’s sovereignty must be respected by the San Francisco tech giant.

Millions of content creators in Nigeria, who earn their living from the micro blogging site, have been affected by the action as they are banned from using Twitter. Some are already exploring the diversification option with other social media platforms as their new found love.

According to Statista, as of January 2021, Nigeria’s over 200 million population, has about 33 million active social media users while WhatsApp, which is the most popular platform used in the country, has a record over 90 million users.

Similarly, Statista records that about 61.4 per cent of Nigerian social media users use Twitter; 86.2 per cent use Facebook; 81.6 per cent use YouTube; 73.1 per cent use Instagram; and 67.2 per cent use Facebook Messenger. – With the Punch reports