Telegram eliminated the power for customers on iOS to create pay-to-view posts resulting from Apple’s strict App Retailer pointers (by way of 9to5Mac). In a put up on Telegram, CEO Pavel Durov says creators on the platform have been utilizing third-party cost or donation bots to promote entry to sure posts on their channels, however that Apple was “not pleased with content material creators monetizing their efforts with out paying a 30% tax to Apple.”

Apple doesn’t enable builders to make use of third-party cost processors of their apps and prices as much as a 30 % fee on any in-app purchases. As famous by 9to5Mac, Telegram initially appeared to have been testing a paid posts characteristic, as noticed by social media advisor Matt Navarra. Nevertheless, Telegram stated in an announcement to 9to5Mac that the platform isn’t testing this characteristic and customers have as an alternative been making the most of third-party cost bots so as to add a paywall to posts.

“That is simply one other instance of how a trillion-dollar monopoly abuses its market dominance on the expense of thousands and thousands of customers who’re making an attempt to monetize their very own content material,” Durov says. “I hope that the regulators within the EU, India and elsewhere begin taking motion earlier than Apple destroys extra goals and crushes extra entrepreneurs with a tax that’s larger than any government-levied VAT [value-added tax].”