This article was published on December 20, 2013

Hey Facebook, chat app Line is introducing video ads that users will be paid to watch


Hey Facebook, chat app Line is introducing video ads that users will be paid to watch

Line_LogoFacebook’s move towards video ads raised concern among users this week, but what if you were paid to watch them? That’s a concept that Line, the messaging app from Japan with 300 million registered users, is putting to the test next year.

The company announced today (in Japanese) that it will introduce ‘Line Free Coin’ services to Android users in seven Asian countries from mid-January. Essentially, it will allow users in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to earn Line Coins, the company’s virtual currency, by watching promotional videos from Line partners (we don’t know the rate of pay yet).

A spokesperson tells us the feature is another way companies can promote themselves, while giving users a chance to earn virtual cash to spend on sticker packs, Line games or other digital content. Seems like a decent deal to us, assuming the content selection is relevant, of course.

➤ Press release in Japanese

Related: Line raises $500,000 for Philippines typhoon victims by selling ‘charitable’ stickers

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