PCWorld.Com - Facebook is tinkering with our news feeds in order to give marketers and developers more visibility. According to the Wall Street Journal, the changes may allow the social networking site to gather even more information on its users.
Both advertisers and developers are vital the the overall success of Facebook, but they argue the current system isn't working. Yes, we see what our friends are 'liking,' but wouldn't we be more engaged or prompted to use these applications or interact with these advertisers if our friends are also using them?
Facebook has confirmed that it conducting tests of an even more intrusive news feed on a limited basis. I can confirm this personally: I've seen my friend's comments to pages and such placed in my feed like any other status. A little odd, yes: but I guess they think it will make me more likely to check those pages out (it doesn't).
The company may also be ready to expand its "Like" button to other concepts, the WSJ claims, such as a "Want" or "Need" button, and so forth. Obviously, this could provide Facebook with some useful information on you--after all, it's already using your likes as advertising fodder.
Say you click the new "Want" button on the new car of your dreams. It's not brain surgery to expect that Facebook would want to serve you car ads. Sure sounds like Beacon redux, don't it? Except this time, you have a little bit more control over what the site is sharing with your friends! More
