Linkedin testing paid online events as potential new moneymaker

LinkedIn is testing the idea of letting users charge for virtual events hosted on its platform, potentially creating a new moneymaker for both the social network and its users. 

The test involves a small group of users, and the company hasn’t decided whether to roll it out more broadly, the Microsoft Corp. division said in a statement Monday. LinkedIn is still exploring the approach, including how much -- if anything -- it will collect from hosts.

The move would build on the growth of LinkedIn Events, a program that saw participation surge during the pandemic. Twenty-one million people attended one of the platform’s events in 2020, the company said.