4 min read
In recent months, numerous Pakistani content creators have faced unexpected demonetization of their Facebook pages, despite adhering to the platform’s guidelines and maintaining a significant audience. This unexpected policy shift has left creators frustrated and uncertain about their future earnings.
Facebook has implemented stringent financial requirements for monetisation, requiring creators to establish connections between their bank accounts and authorised tax information from approved countries. Pakistan is not included in the list of countries that have access to a variety of monetisation features, such as in-stream advertisements.
In the past 48 hours, a significant number of video creators have experienced the disappearance of their payment features. This removal affects both video monetisation aspects, such as in-stream ads and reel ads, as well as photo post earnings. Additionally, story monetisation is also impacted.
Facebook has refused to take responsibility for not informing creators about these policy changes. Many content creators who rely on Facebook for their livelihood have been left anxious and uncertain due to the sudden disruptions in their earnings.
Why Are Pakistani Pages Being Demonetized?
Facebook altered its policy regarding users’ financial eligibility, which triggered a new cycle of demonetisation. A significant modification prohibits the use of Pakistani bank accounts and tax documentation for monetisation purposes. Pages are required to associate their account financial data with one of the eligible nations:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- United Arab Emirates
- India
Facebook’s new financial requirements have the potential to immediately deactivate creators’ monetisation privileges, despite their continued adherence to content guidelines. Financial policies that were abruptly altered resulted in the loss of monetisation rights for long-term creators, which causes them to experience significant distress.
Common Reasons for Demonetization
Several factors have been identified as common reasons for the removal of monetization privileges:
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Ineligible Bank Accounts: Using bank accounts that are not registered in an eligible country.
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Mismatched Tax Information: Discrepancies between tax information and payout accounts.
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Inaccurate Financial Data: Providing incorrect or third-party financial information.
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Unverifiable Payout Details: Inconsistencies or unverifiable payout information.
These issues can lead to immediate demonetization, even if creators produce original content and comply with community guidelines.
Steps to Restore Monetization
Following steps are in place to enable affected creators to re-establish their ability to monetise their activities in accordance with the following guidelines:
- Align Financial Details with Eligible Countries: The bank account and tax information must be registered in the same eligible nation that is recognised by Facebook’s monetisation program. Users must undergo a complex process that necessitates an assessment of pertinent legal and financial implications in order to establish financial accounts in countries that Facebook marketplaces recognise.
- Verify Accuracy of Information: Facebook users are required to verify the accuracy of their financial data by cross-referencing it with official documentation. Payment delays and potential denials of monetisation privileges may result from the presence of inaccurate information.
- Avoid Third-Party or Fabricated Information: Permanent demonetization will occur when users utilize third-party accounts or supply any fabricated data. Using only legitimate financial accounts which you control should be your first priority.
To further safeguard against demonetization, creators should:
- Regularly review Facebook’s monetization policies and the list of eligible countries, as these can change over time.
- Take time to accurately enter all required information during the monetization setup process to prevent errors that could lead to demonetization.
Facebook’s ‘Stars’ program allows followers to financially support authors via a new platform feature. Pakistani creators can take use of this option, which serves as an additional income possibility through this scheme.
By diligently aligning with Facebook’s updated policies and exploring available monetization tools, Pakistani content creators can continue to leverage the platform effectively and sustain their revenue streams.
