Side-Line versus Facebook’s Stars scam program
In a message on our social media channels we have attacked the Facebook Stars scam program.
Facebook Stars is a ‘feature’ that allows followers to show their appreciation for you as a creator. Visitors can buy Stars and send them to a creator to appreciate a live, on-demand, photo, or text content. As it happens, Meta turned on these stars automatically on our Side-Line magazine page on Facebook.
Weird, as we didn’t give them permission to do this. It’s like they’re throwing us a surprise party we never asked for. How… thoughtful. But here’s more: in fact Side-Line doesn’t see a single penny from these so-called stars. It’s truly commendable how META has mastered the art of sneaky actions to, let’s say, ‘misplace’ people’s money.
Several social media agencies have already protested against these practices.
Let it be very clear, we have absolutely no intention of using Facebook for monetization and never will use Facebook for this. We simply don’t trust Facebook with your data and we sure as hell do NOT trust them with your money. The only valid way to help out is by supporting our charities at https://sidelinemag.bandcamp.com , unlike Facebook we do not keep other people’s money.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
— Side-Line Magazine (@sidelinemag) July 31, 2023
So, we've noticed that Facebook has suddenly developed a keen interest in the 'stars' on our page. They're claiming that by purchasing these 'stars', you're supporting Side-Line. Isn't that just adorable?
But here's a fun fact: Side-Line doesn't see a single… pic.twitter.com/K5g1eIqvYJ
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!
