New York — Facebook on Tuesday evening announced that it has begun beta testing a new feature of its search engine that would enable its members to search the site for content from friends, organizations and public figures and sharing about particular topics — from links and comments to photos and videos — all in real time.
Certainly, it sounds a lot similar to Twitter Search, which allows anyone — not just members — to tap into the keywords of Tweets to get a sense of what is being said about a particular topic at any given moment. The plus-point that Twitter has over Facebook, of course, is that anyone can see the tweets. By default, Twitter is a public forum.
Facebook, on the other hand, can offer more than 140 characters and a link in its results. Being able to see results in a number of ways — photos, videos, and so on — offers deeper insight into the topic being searched. In its blog post, the company says:
The people around us are a powerful source for finding information about new and interesting information — from the latest on last night’s episode of “The Office” and suggestions on what to do for your next vacation to current events.
If applied properly, the refreshed engine could offer a viable alternative to individuals seeking refuge from the chaotic world of Twitter. Indeed, Facebook members may prefer orderly data streams that include images, video and audio — rather than obscure one liners from self-obsessed Twitterati.
“Those of you in the test group will see new layouts for search results that will continue to include people’s profiles, Facebook Pages, groups and applications, and some entirely new Search features. With the test, you will be able to search your News Feed for the most recent status updates, photos, links, videos and notes being shared by your friends and the Facebook Pages of which you are a fan,” Facebook’s Kari Lee informed in a blog post. :You will also be able to search for status updates, posted links and notes in Search from people who have chosen to make their profile and content available to everyone. As always, you can control what content you are sharing by editing your privacy settings.”
According to a company blog, a small fraction of Facebook members have been chosen to conduct the test. They can also search for status updates, posted links and notes in Search from people who have chosen to make their profile.
For example, a search of the word “Iran” brings up a number of videos and status updates relevant to the current crisis from friends and Facebook Pages of which members are fans and others who have made their profiles public. Users can see what blogs and news sources their friends are following on the topic.
However, it is also worth noting that Facebook has heard loud and clear from its membership in the past that privacy is important. In its blog post, it reminds users that they maintain control over who sees what and offers a link to the privacy settings page.
The social network may expand the test to more people in the coming weeks, as early users report feedback from their trial, Lee said.
An expanded search function would be a welcome addition to Facebook, as members like sharing more information with others. The trial reportedly will give members a possible alternative to Twitter, the micro-blogging service.