Facebook has never explained why we should like, tag, or check-in. For many, a Facebook profile is a form of expression, their personal showcase on the Internet. When you like the band “MGMT” or check-in at a new hipster place, you are saying many things with a simple action. Though Facebook has grown into a giant these past few years, it still faces threats from the likes of Twitter, Snapchat and Pinterest. And let’s not forget its most ardent rival, Google. So, what is the company doing to stay ahead of its competitors?
Well, the company recently baptized its Graph Search. This feature allows users to find places, photos, companies or the most interesting media, among their contacts and across the social network site. The first version of Graph Search focuses on four main areas: places, people, photos and interests. For your viewing pleasure, we have explained each parts of the whole below.
Places
Besides the already present system of geo-localization, we can visit virtually, note, interact with every places and persons there. Bye bye Yelp and Foursquare. For example, craving a really authentic meal? you can try “Mexican restaurants in New York which likes people native of Mexico City “. We’ve yet to see this on Yelp.
People
This feature should enlighten all the job recruiters and single people out there. Between Match and LinkedIn, this takes various criteria into account, from a person’s workplace to their sexual orientation.
Let’s say you’re a New Yorker who wants to organize a girls pajama party, try: “my friends who love pajama who live in New York”. And, if you want to be more specific, try: “photos of the friends of my friends who love pajama parties who live in New York who are single women between 20 and 34 years who like MGMT.” (Try saying that 10x fast).
Photos
With Graph Search, Facebook strengthens its leadership in photo sharing by allowing you to view photos across the site, through a pinterest-like interface. While this feature has few possibilities for monetization, it does allow Facebook to position itself at the helm of visual research.
Interests
Graph Search can be a research tool for books, music, and movies. For example, if you want to know the TV programs that your friends appreciate, simply type, “TV programs which my friends like.” You can go even farther, by targeting all users of Facebook.
Facebook’s graph search raises numerous questions regarding what is private or public. Questions that the company has already tried to diffuse.
We’re guessing not many people want the whole world to know about their embarrassing habits. With Facebook graph search containing features that can be found on sites like Yelp, foursquare and TripAdvisor, the company might soon be unstoppable. But, we’re speaking too soon, let’s wait and see.