Facebook introduced a new feature on Thursday that may change how you use the social network forever. The company is testing a new feature that allows users to buy goods from businesses directly on the site. See an ad for a pair of sunglasses you like pass through the News Feed? Tap buy and you can purchase it right from your mobile device.
This is particularly important for Facebook, as it could become yet another major revenue stream, but also for advertising partners. Anyone who buys ads on Facebook can cater them to specific audiences based on a number of factors, including age, location, sex, interest and more., That means advertisers can now get their products right in front of a Facebook user’s eyes, and now with an easy way for end-users to buy the products on-the-go.
Don’t worry, though, Facebook says that it’s still taking your privacy very seriously and that it has “taken steps to help make the payment experience safe and secure.” The social network won’t share any of your credit or debit card information, and you don’t even have to save that info on the site after you make a purchase. Facebook said the test only involves a “few small and medium-sized businesses in the US,” but it didn’t share information on what firms are participating yet.
