The social network says it's committed to stamping out ticket fraud, after an investigation reveals scammers are preying on concertgoers
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Partnership with independent venues sees social network site move further into live events
By IQ on 07 Dec 2015
Facebook, the world’s largest social media platform has begun piloting selling concert tickets directly through its event pages. Using a Buy Tickets button, Facebook users will be able to purchase tickets for selected events and pick them up at the venue box offices.
The company is partnering with a small group of independent venues, artists and event promoters in the San Francisco Bay Area for the pilot. Currently, there will be no paper or electronic tickets issued.
Ticketing fulfillment will via a third party, and it is understood that Facebook will take none of the ticketing income.
“Reducing the friction for buying a ticket is something that we think would be pretty interesting to do eventually”
“Reducing the friction for buying a ticket is something that we think would be pretty interesting to do eventually,” said Facebook product manager Aditya Koolwal, talking to Buzzfeed in September. “That’s definitely a very interesting thing that we’re waiting for the right time for.”
The ticketing trial is the latest in a series of commercial initiative that Facebook is testing. The company already allows product sellers to sell directly via a Buy button, and in July it began building some shops directly onto pages.
