Social Networking | World Tech Today

Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) has now added new features for the users to buy and sell products on the social networking website. Earlier, it was in the news that the social networking giant is going to implement features that will allow the users of a particular group to buy and sell the products. The new feature adds more functionalities and features to it.

Facebook is now going to present the items on the sale across the group in an unified view in the user’s timeline, along with an ability to search for the products on sale among open or public groups.

Facebook has added ‘All Sales Group’ for the user to have a unified view of the items for sale in different groups he/she belongs to. Apart from that, the social networking giant has included a search engine for the users to search for products that are listed in public/open groups on the website.

The features are currently under testing, and will soon roll out worldwide. Apparently, the company is now moving ahead and expanding its territory to compete with companies such as eBay.

However, every coin has two sides. It is no unknown fact that Facebook is slowly becoming an advertisement company, and allowing the users to sell the products can invite more advertisers on board. Otherwise, it can also help itself learn more about the users’ behavior towards shopping and things they are interested in.

Looking at the good side, Facebook can help buy you things you might have been searching for past few days. Products on sale can range from real estate to collectibles or more. It can be a used gadget or something more valuable such as a painting.

However, with great features comes great responsibilities, as people can sell fake or counterfeit products the users.

According to some of the reports, Facebook is going add a ‘Sell’ button for the users to buy and sell on the social networking giant’s website. The decision comes in effect due to several Facebook groups already active in selling and buying the products.

Apparently, the social networking giant wants to be a competitor for other services, including eBay and Craiglist. It is without a doubt that the Facebook has more active profiles and a vast community of sellers and buyers as its users base.

According to the official sources, a user will be able to put an advertisement with the help of ‘Sell’ button available in the group. Every other member will be able to see it as sold or available, along with every other product that has been ever sold through that group. Facebook said it would help users to have them with a right buyer without going into a loss, or worse. The wait time for an individual to sell a product can drop significantly depending on the group in which the ad is being displayed.

However, Facebook isn’t going to act as a middleman in between the two parties in processing the transactions and or confirming about the quality of a product. However, report suggests that the company may ask you to ‘Boost’ the ad among different groups or in the timeline of other users.

Facebook is yet to roll out this feature. However, there are shortcomings that still needs to be fixed. First off, the feature is yet not ready for a search option. You cannot find a product on the social networking giant’s website. Hence, it restricts the visibility and reach of a product. In the same way, users are limited to sell and buy within a group only.

Facebook has eventually turned from a social networking website into something that sells ads based on the personal information and interest of a user.