New “want” button could revolutionise Facebook experience

Facebook could be moving towards the creation of public online “wish lists” with its apparent trial of a new “want” button.

Mashable reported that a plug-in on the website exists for this purpose, but it has been disabled. Similarly to the “like” and “subscribe” options, a want button could make it possible for users to compare products they wish to purchase with friends.

Speaking to Mashable, Tom Waddington, a web developer from Cut Out + Keep, said: “The button displays on the site, but clicking it shows an error message. Facebook hasn’t enabled any apps to publish wants yet.”

The social networking site had no comment to make on the rumoured want button, which is not listed as a social plug-in on Facebook’s developer website, but speculation has begun regarding the potential changes it could bring.

As with current plug-ins, a want button would be capable of collecting information about users and could open up the possibility of brand-specific applications within the site.

Waddington added: “E-commerce sites could increase social exposure by including a want button. It will not require authorising an app and will publish a ‘user wants product’ story in the news feed.

“If Facebook allows sites to include prices and product data such as ISBN numbers, then it will become really powerful.”

Read the full Mashable article here.