Amid the looming possibility of TikTok’s ban in the United States, Meta, led by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, is offering a substantial incentive to content creators from the popular third-party app to switch over to Facebook and Instagram. Meta has announced that selected influencers will receive up to $5,000 in bonuses if they consistently post content on its platforms for over three months.
The company’s “Breakthrough Bonus Program” will reward creators who meet the criteria of regularly posting on Facebook and Instagram during their first 90 days. The amount of the bonus will depend on an evaluation of their social media presence.
By sharing content on Meta platforms, these creators will also gain access to Facebook’s content monetization program, which allows them to earn additional income from their posts. Additionally, Meta is offering a free trial of Meta Verified, which includes the coveted blue checkmark and provides exclusive features to help accounts gain visibility. Normally, this service costs between $15 to $120 per month.
While Meta did not specify that this offer was solely aimed at TikTok creators, the timing coincides with TikTok’s ongoing ban in US app stores. Despite a temporary reprieve due to President Trump’s 75-day delay, TikTok remains unavailable for download, and its future in the US is uncertain.
TikTok claims to have 170 million users in the US, many of whom depend on the platform for their income. This leaves many content creators looking for an alternative platform if TikTok’s services are cut off.
This isn’t the first time Meta has targeted TikTok’s user base. The company recently launched an app called “Edits,” which bears a strong resemblance to TikTok’s video editing tool, CapCut, which went offline following the ByteDance ban on January 19.
Additionally, Meta introduced a new “affiliate link experience” for users’ shoppable content, allowing users to place affiliate links directly on their videos, similar to how it works on TikTok.
The influence of TikTok is also noticeable in Instagram’s design changes. The platform now features rectangular posts and videos, mirroring the appearance of TikTok’s content layout.