Facebook allows media to stream comments

DisplayMediaFacebook wants to share updates and comments on popular media pages on TV. According to this Facebook’s blog post, “Starting today, selected news and organizations can begin to integrate Facebook conversations into their broadcast or coverage by displaying public posts of real-time activity about any given topic.” “For example, CNN’s New Day can now easily incorporate what people on Facebook have to say about the latest, breaking news event during their show.”

In a move seen as another strategy to compete with Twitter, Facebook intends to roll out two API’s; Public API meant to display number of comments about a particular topic categorized by gender, age and location and Keyword Insights API that will determine the number of posts mentioning a particular term over specified time period. Facebook users should not be worried about privacy as the posts to be shared are those that are already in public domain. Also categorization will be done anonymously.

Facebook aims to achieve interactive use of comments between Facebook users and mainstream media outlets. Initially the APIs will only be available to limited Media partners including CNN, NBC, Sky TV, The Economist, Mass Relevance, and Slate.

The announcement is expected to excite the media as every media house wants to know what the public says about particular news items. The media will also use the posts as an indication on the size of audience following their broadcast. This however should be taken with a pinch of salt as other products by Facebook aping Twitter have not been successful in achieving their intended objectives. For example Facebook’s hashtag and trending topics have not generated awareness on major products as was expected. Facebook has remained positive citing the few weeks the products have been on operation.

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