Facebook has announced a handful of features to help small businesses affected by the current pandemic.
In a recent blogpost, Facebook announced it would be implementing four key changes to how it supports small businesses, starting with those located within the United States.
The first update allows businesses to begin offering digital gift cards to customers through the social media site. First rolled out in the US on 2 April, users will be shown the option to purchase these gift cards via their news feed.
The second is an update to its Small Business Grants Program, which offers $100 million in grants to local and smaller businesses. Working with third-party partner Ureeka, Facebook is looking to distribute $40 million to 10,000 businesses within the US, starting with those located in 34 locations where site employees reside.
Along with changes to their grant program, Facebook is also allowing small business owners to ask customers for support through personal fundraisers.
The final update will allow business owners to inform customers of temporary services changes, such as reduced hours, via their official pages and through searches on the site.
Word of the updates comes as Facebook develops more ways in which users can be informed about the ever-changing nature on the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to helping small business owners, the site has also made it easier for users to find credible and up-to-date information about the pandemic via buttons added to news feeds.
Those interested in learning about the recent updates, as well as the other ways Facebook is adapting its site, can do so via Facebook’s official blog.
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Facebook has begun asking users to self-report COVID-19 symptoms. Alternatively, you could read about Nicole Woodward‘s upcoming mental health-themed readathon.
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