Instagram is debuting a new way to raise money, the company announced in a blog post.
The photo- and video-sharing social networking service owned by Facebook said the new service will allow Instagram users to raise cash for a cause, small business or friend.
Instagram is launching a test of Personal Fundraiser in the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland, according to the post. The tool is already available on Facebook.
Users who live in countries where they can donate to a fundraiser through Instagram’s donation sticker are also eligible to donate to a Personal Fundraiser, the post stated.
Users have raised more than $65 million for pandemic and racial justice causes globally via Instagram and Facebook this year, according to the post. In the last 30 days alone, donations on Instagram have doubled in the U.S.
According to Instagram’s official blog,
“Since January, people have raised more than $US 100 million for COVID-19 fundraisers globally across Instagram and Facebook. In the last 30 days, donations on Instagram have doubled in the US. We’ve also seen a large wave of digital activism responding to the global conversation around racial justice. From people raising money to buy medical equipment for Black Lives Matter protesters, rebuilding Black-owned small businesses affected by COVID-19 and funding educational resources related to racial justice, people are eager to mobilize around causes they care about. Now, we’re making it easier to create fundraisers directly on Instagram that benefit such personal causes.”
Instagram has yet to announce if the feature will be rolled out on a wider global scale in the coming months.
Do you think this feature will benefit those who have been economically affected by Covid-19?
Let us know in the comments below!