Payment companies are always looking to simplify the process of getting money from one user to the other, and Facebook is no different. The social media giant is currently experimenting with QR codes that let you pay someone else with a single scan from their phone.
Facebook's Foray Into QR Payments
If you're wondering why Facebook has an interest in moving money, the social media website also owns a service called Facebook Pay. It lets you pay people through the many social channels that Facebook supports, like its official Messenger app.
Now, TechCrunch has reported that QR code payments are making their way onto Facebook Pay. Some users are noticing that Facebook Pay now has an option called "scan" at the top of the app screen. When it's tapped, you can either get your QR code or scan someone else's.
Fortunately, you don't need to physically meet up with the recipient and scan the code on their phone. When you look at your own QR code, Facebook gives you a link that leads directly to it. You can then send this link to people who can open the QR code in their browser and scan it from the comfort of their own home.
For a little while, this feature was simply a strange addition that appeared with no fanfare or official announcement. However, a Facebook spokesperson has since reached out to TechCrunch to confirm that it's the real deal:
To make payments on Messenger even easier, we’ve begun testing the ability for people to use QR codes and payment links when they want to send or request money.
Unfortunately, if you want to get in on this new technology, you'll need to jump through a few hoops first. First of all, you need to live in the US to be eligible to send QR code payments.
If you do live in the US, you can only send payments through the Facebook Messenger service. You also need to be 18+ years old and have a Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, or supported prepaid payment methods registered on Facebook Pay. You also have to set US dollars as your desired currency in the app.
Once you're all set, hang tight for the scan update to download onto your app. Once done, you can then send and receive payments across Facebook via QR codes.
Getting Paid, One Scan at a Time
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to get paid or send money, Facebook may have the solution for you. While it's in a very limited test environment right now, the new QR scan payment feature will hopefully become a staple for Facebook Pay.
If you've never thought about sending money over Facebook, why not give it a go? We named it one of the best alternatives to PayPal, so it's worth looking into if you want to take a different path to pay friends and family online.
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