FB incorporates payment system to messenger app

As the Facebook messenger now becomes the largest “private living room” in the world, its developer is soon to introduce a payment platform within the app.

Facebook Philippines country director John Rubio announced that unified payment platform will soon be made available via messenger, so people will not only use the messenger as their online social lounge, but also a venue for productive time spent and maybe start online business exchanges.

Filipinos are the second largest nationality in the world, who spend the most amount of time on the internet. “We love messaging [or socializing.”

Aside from improving the messaging experience of users within the messenger app, Rubio said the payment facility will also be introduced to encourage people to do business much easier online.

Today, the messenger is only used as a mere platform for conversation, promote networking and community regardless of distance, promote commerce is the next step that the platform is going to pursue, Rubio said.

According to Rubio, Facebook gives people the power to build communities & bring the world closer together.

Rubio emphasized Facebook’s serious stance to promote positive social impact, at the same time protecting from harm and protecting people from harm and giving them more control over their privacy, data, and the content.

Recently, Facebook Community Boost was introduced in Cebu to boost its commitment to help MSMEs and communities grow with free and easy-to-use Facebook tools and digital skills training workshops.

Facebook Community Boost is a global initiative that aims to equip entrepreneurs with the tools and skills to keep up with the new mobile-first market.

The London-based consultancy firm called “We Are Social” tagged the Philippines as the world’s highest social media users with 67 million active internet users.

In its Digital 2018 report, which compiled data from various third-party sources, We Are Social said Filipinos spent an average of 3 hours and 57 minutes a day on social media sites, mainly on Facebook.

The report said there were 67 million accounts on Facebook in the Philippines, matching the total number of internet users in the county.

Another 10 million Filipinos were on Instagram, which is owned by Facebook.

Based on 2018 data, Filipinos spent nine hours and 29 minutes a day on the internet. This was the second-highest in the world after Thailand at nine hours and 38 minutes.

According to the report, E-commerce is another big growth area for the Philippines.

As of 2017, Filipino consumers spent around $2.16 billion shopping online. Bulk of these or $642.6 million, were for travel expenses while $543 million went to electronic goods. The smallest amount was for digital music, at $12.9 million.