What revenue streams encourage online wildlife trafficking?

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Revenue Streams Facilitating Online Wildlife Trafficking

Meta's platforms, particularly Facebook, are accused of facilitating online wildlife trafficking through mechanisms that allow users to generate income. These include sharing advertising revenues with content creators and offering subscription models. The greater the engagement and interaction an account receives, the more potential it has to monetize its content, which can inadvertently incentivize the trade of illegal wildlife products.
Advertising Revenue Sharing

Meta's practice of sharing advertising revenue with users provides a financial incentive for creating and maintaining active accounts. When users generate content that attracts significant engagement, they can earn a portion of the advertising income displayed alongside their posts. This model encourages users to consistently produce content to maximize their earnings, which can extend to illegal activities if those activities garner attention.
Subscription Models

The availability of subscription models on Meta's platforms allows users to offer exclusive content or benefits to paying subscribers. This creates a direct financial relationship between content creators and their audience. In the context of wildlife trafficking, this could mean offering access to private groups or special content related to the trade, further encouraging the monetization of illicit activities.
Content Monetisation and Engagement Link

The core principle of content monetization on social media platforms is directly tied to user engagement. Accounts that achieve higher levels of interaction, such as likes, shares, and comments, become more valuable for advertising and subscription revenue. This dynamic can lead individuals involved in illegal wildlife trafficking to prioritize content that generates buzz and engagement, regardless of its legality, as it directly translates into potential income.

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What revenue streams encourage online wildlife trafficking?

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