To help creators make money from Facebook Reels, Meta will expand tests of overlay ads, beginning with banner and sticker ads
Facebook Reels is now available to users in more than 150 countries. (Credit: Meta)
Social technology firm Meta has expanded the availability of Facebook Reels, a short-video sharing feature, for iOS and Android to more than 150 countries.
The feature was launched in the US in September 2021.
Facebook Reels can feature music, audio, effects, and others. They can be found in Facebook news feed or in groups.
When viewing a reel on Facebook, a user can follow the creator from the video itself apart from liking it, commenting on it or sharing it.
The short-video sharing feature started with editing tools such as audio, augmented reality (AR) effects, timer and countdown, speed, and multi-clip. Meta has added new tools such as remix, 60-second reels, drafts, and video clipping.
In the coming weeks, Meta expects to create and discover Facebook Reels in new places like reels in stories, reels in watch, top of feed, and suggested reels in feed.
Meta said that to help creators make money from Facebook Reels, it is expanding tests of overlay ads in the videos. To begin with, banner and sticker ads will be introduced in Facebook Reels.
Meta in a blog post stated: “Watching video is half of time spent on Facebook and Instagram, and Reels is our fastest growing content format by far. We’re focused on making Reels the best way for creators to get discovered, connect with their audience and earn money.
“We also want to make it fun and easy for people to find and share relevant and entertaining content.”
Meta said that it is creating a range of opportunities for creators to monetise their reels. The Reels Play bonus programme, which is part of Meta’s $1bn creator investment, is said to pay up to $35,000 a month to eligible creators in the US, Canada, and Mexico, based on the views recorded by their qualifying reels.
The social technology company said that it will expand the bonus programme in the coming months to more countries.