Critical Thinking Question: Why isn’t Facebook having the Reward Programme like YouTube (Partner Programme)?

Firstly, it would be hard for Facebook to set the criteria for the programme. Compare to YouTube, Facebook users have a variety of ways to share their views like by text, photos, videos etc, which are too diverse. It is hard to set a standard to indicate the level that should be awarded. Moreover, with the recent new functions — users can choose different feelings towards the contents like angry, like, dislike … etc. This makes it even more difficult to set the standard.

Secondly, it would be too costly for Facebook to carry out the programme. Compare to YouTube, users are much easier to post a feed on Facebook. For YouTube users, they have to spend at least a certain time to make a video. Therefore, if there were a reward programme on Facebook, people would abuse the use of it and Facebook would have to pay a lot.

Lastly, concerning the effectiveness of advertisements on both platform, Facebook cannot guarantee users look at the advertisements as they are only displaced on the side of the feeds or in between. Yet, for YouTube, there would be advertisements right before the videos played. It seems like the Partner Programme is rewarding the YouTuber for helping YouTube to earn the advertisement fee. On the contrary, Facebook users can gain money without helping seems not logical. Therefore, Facebook would have a lower chance to carry out the reward programme.