Yes, it is an ad. The only distinction is the boosted "ad" starts life as an organic post instead of a created ad.
Yes, Apple modified the status quo...they didn't enforce this for Meta until recently - Twitter, TikTok et al all pay via IAP and Apple is now enforcing this for Meta.
Yes again, it is related to the fact that boosted posts are done via the Facebook app and the economic value is created in that same app vs Ads Manager where the "purchase" is in the Ads Manager app and the economic value shows up in the Facebook app - or on the web.
And...yes, the rules are fluid from Apple. Yeah, I think it makes logical sense per the IAP rules to buy a Kindle book in the Amazon app and then consume it in the Kindle app but I bet Apple and Amazon had talks about that and Apple would not guarantee they would not try to get 30% of those sales so Amazon said...nope, not able to buy a Kindle book on the Amazon iOS app. Which, is exactly what Meta was doing till Apple "clarified" its rules and now wants them to pay for boosted...
Our firm is small and we avoid any possibility of Apple trying to grab 30% or our revenue...so, no app for us at all.
Yes, Apple modified the status quo...they didn't enforce this for Meta until recently - Twitter, TikTok et al all pay via IAP and Apple is now enforcing this for Meta.
Yes again, it is related to the fact that boosted posts are done via the Facebook app and the economic value is created in that same app vs Ads Manager where the "purchase" is in the Ads Manager app and the economic value shows up in the Facebook app - or on the web.
And...yes, the rules are fluid from Apple. Yeah, I think it makes logical sense per the IAP rules to buy a Kindle book in the Amazon app and then consume it in the Kindle app but I bet Apple and Amazon had talks about that and Apple would not guarantee they would not try to get 30% of those sales so Amazon said...nope, not able to buy a Kindle book on the Amazon iOS app. Which, is exactly what Meta was doing till Apple "clarified" its rules and now wants them to pay for boosted...
Our firm is small and we avoid any possibility of Apple trying to grab 30% or our revenue...so, no app for us at all.