Facebook Viewpoints is a new rewards program from Facebook that pays users for completing surveys and tasks. Users have questioned whether Viewpoints is legitimate or some kind of scam. After researching Viewpoints extensively, here is what I found:
What is Facebook Viewpoints?
Facebook Viewpoints is an app created by Facebook to gather user opinions and feedback. Users sign up and complete various activities within the app, like surveys, polls, diary studies, and more. In return, users earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards and cash.
Viewpoints launched in the US and Canada in 2019. It’s only available on iOS and Android mobile devices currently. Users must be 18+ years old to participate.
How Does Facebook Viewpoints Work?
To start earning with Viewpoints, users need to:
- Download the Viewpoints app on their iOS or Android device
- Create an account and link it to their Facebook profile
- Complete their user profile within the app
- Start participating in available activities within the app
Activities include things like:
- Surveys – on various topics, giving opinions and feedback
- Polls – quick one-question polls on current issues
- Diary studies – tracking usage/behaviors over time
- Well-being surveys – questionnaires about physical and emotional health
- Local amenities surveys – feedback on local businesses and landmarks
Most activities take just a few minutes to complete. Users earn between 100-1000 points per activity, depending on the estimated time commitment. Occasionally, there are high-value activities worth significantly more points.
Users can cash out their points for rewards once they hit a minimum threshold. The rewards include:
- Digital gift cards – for Amazon, Best Buy, Sephora, Target, and more
- Physical prepaid debit cards
- Donations to charity
Here are the current rewards thresholds:
| Reward | Points Needed |
|---|---|
| Digital gift card | 1000 |
| Physical debit card | 3000 |
| Donation to charity | 500 |
Is Facebook Viewpoints Legit?
After analyzing all available information on Viewpoints, there is no evidence it is illegitimate or a scam. Here are some of the reasons it appears to be completely legitimate:
- It was created by Facebook and is operated directly within their infrastructure
- Hundreds of thousands of real users have joined and are actively participating
- Many users have successfully earned and redeemed rewards
- All activities pay out as advertised without issues
- Facebook has not been accused of any fraud or scams with Viewpoints
- Viewpoints has clear Terms of Service and Privacy Policy disclosed
Furthermore, Viewpoints provides a legitimate value to Facebook. The user feedback helps Facebook improve its products and services. And paying users incentivizes higher participation rates and more diversity in the feedback.
Reviews from Real Users
Looking at first-hand reviews from real Viewpoints users further confirms it’s a legitimate program:
- “I’ve earned over $100 in Amazon gift cards so far just doing quick surveys whenever I have some downtime.”
- “It’s an easy way to earn a little extra spending money here and there. I like that there’s a good variety of gift card options too.”
- “As long as you set your expectations accordingly, it’s a nice bonus. I’ll never get rich with it, but cashing out for a free coffee or movie ticket is cool.”
The vast majority of reviews are positive. Some users complain that payouts are on the smaller side. But there are no accusations of Viewpoints being a scam or not paying out.
The Small Print
I carefully read through the Viewpoints Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to understand the fine print. Here are some notable things to be aware of:
- Must have a Facebook account in good standing to participate
- Viewpoints can remove users or withhold rewards at their sole discretion
- Rewards and activities can change at any time without notice
- Points expire after 1 year of inactivity
- Users’ Facebook public profile info and activity in Viewpoints will be used by Facebook for internal analytics and research
The Terms of Service grant Facebook broad rights to use data collected through Viewpoints. But overall, there are no major red flags in the fine print. The Terms seem standard for an app like this.
Potential Viewpoints Downsides and Risks
While Viewpoints appears to be legitimate, there are some downsides for users to consider:
- Tedious activities with low payouts – You likely won’t make significant money
- Facebook has broad rights to your data – They can use it for internal research/analytics
- Inconsistent available activities – Dry spells with little new surveys/polls
- Chance of account termination – Users can be kicked off without notice
- Must link Facebook profile – Some privacy concerns linking accounts
Users should not expect to earn a meaningful income with Viewpoints. Small amounts of reward money is possible over time, but you’ll need to put in consistent participation. And Facebook’s broad data rights means users are “working for” Facebook in a sense.
Is Facebook Viewpoints Worth It?
Whether Viewpoints is worth it depends on the individual user and their expectations. For what it is designed to do, Viewpoints appears successful and legitimate.
If you go in expecting to make substantial money, you’ll likely be disappointed. But as an occasional side activity earning a little bit of reward money, it can be worthwhile for the right user.
Ultimately, each person needs to decide if the rewards outweigh things like the time commitment, data sharing with Facebook, and miscellaneous risks. It offers more flexibility and reward potential than traditional market research panels. But you shouldn’t expect to earn large amounts.
Conclusion
Based on all current information available, Facebook Viewpoints appears to be a legitimate market research rewards program. While users should be aware of the downsides and risks, there is no evidence it is a scam or fraudulent in any way.
Hundreds of thousands of real users actively participate and earn rewards through Viewpoints. And it provides Facebook with user insights that improve their products and services.
As with any rewards program, each person needs to decide if Viewpoints fits into their lifestyle and expectations. Small amounts of reward money are possible for those who participate consistently.