Zuckerberg calls out Apple's 30% cut, says Facebook creator tools will stay free until 2023
The social network is also launching a new payout interface for creators that'll show the fees taken by other companies.
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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Monday said the social network's tools for creators -- including paid online events and fan subscriptions -- will be free until 2023. When the social network does eventually take a cut, it'll be less than the 30% that Apple and other companies take, Zuckerberg said in a post on Facebook.
"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," Zuckerberg wrote. "And when we do introduce a revenue share, it will be less than the 30% that Apple and others take."
Zuckerberg said in a follow-up comment that Facebook will also be launching a new payout interface so creators can see "how different companies' fees and taxes are impacting their earnings." The new interface will initially launch on web for paid events, Facebook said.
The social network launched its paid online events product last summer, inviting some people running Facebook pages to use tools designed to create, promote, host and monetize virtual live events. Since launch, event hosts have received 100% of revenue from ticket sales through Facebook Pay. Initially, Facebook planned to introduce a fee in August, but has now extended that until 2023. Apple and Google also agreed to pause the fees they collected on Facebook events to help people during the pandemic, but the social network says both companies will be collecting fees again next year.
Facebook has been critical of the 30% fee Apple charges for purchases that take place within apps running on iPhones and threw its support behind Epic Games, the maker of popular battle royale game Fortnite, in its legal battle against Apple. Zuckerberg's post came just hours ahead of the start of Apple WWDC, the company's annual conference for developers.