Facebook is reportedly testing the idea of turning its current Notes product into a long-form content platform.
This test was first spotted by Dave Winer on Twitter, who linked to an example:
Facebook "notes" have a new Medium-like appearance. (See comments on this note.) https://t.co/e8QQwWEXeN
— Dave Winer (@davewiner) August 17, 2015
Visiting the link in his tweet will show you a Facebook Note that more resembles a page of content you’d see on a site like Medium.
A Facebook spokesperson has confirmed the test, stating: “We’re testing an update to Notes to make it easier for people to create and read longer-form stories on Facebook.”
This update is poised to make Notes relevant again — a Facebook feature that largely went forgotten once the company started allowing longer status updates.
If Facebook wants to get people blogging on its site, the biggest selling point right now is its massive built-in audience.
The company faces competition from Medium when it comes to attracting thought leaders to its content platform. LinkedIn has also been making a name for itself lately as a content publishing platform for professionals.
On the other hand, Facebook may carve out a new niche for itself as a platform for casual bloggers, and those who never before considered the idea of starting a blog.
In any case, Facebook turning its attention to Notes is intriguing and it will be interesting to see what comes of it.
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