Facebook has introduced a new section of its app that will link neighbors and organize community news. Following an initial test of its Next-door-like 'Neighborhoods' feature for consumers in Calgary last October.
"Today, we're beginning to test Facebook Neighborhoods, a single destination to build and strengthen local communities on Facebook. Facebook Neighborhoods is a dedicated space within the Facebook app designed to help you connect with your neighbors, participate in your local community and discover new places nearby. To join, you'll need to be 18 years or older and confirm your neighborhood." [1]
FB Initiative's of Next Step
Facebook has now revealed the initiative's of its next step, which will see Neighborhoods launched to regions throughout Canada as the first phase of a wider public rollout.
Facebook is Used for Wide Communication
People have often used Facebook to communicate with their peers, whether it's to mobilize support for local businesses, to ask for recommendations and tips in local groups, to give support, or to meet neighbors that share similar interests. It has been evident how important these connections can be during these trying times, particularly during the pandemic.
Neighborhoods Features
Neighbourhood's core tenet is to make it easier to do that and bring people even closer.
Neighborhoods is a separate feature within Facebook that allows users to enter specific local groups to promote connection within their immediate vicinity. Users create a Neighborhoods profile, which includes a separate Neighborhoods bio as well as your Facebook name and image, and then connect with local community groups and causes, as well as find ways to communicate.
"On Neighborhoods, Facebook users can create a separate subprofile and can populate it with interests and a custom bio" [2]
On Neighborhoods, Facebook users can create a different sub-profile and fill it with preferences and a personalized bio. You may access your lower-case neighborhood as well as neighboring communities. There are some limitations, but the focus is on linking neighborhoods and having more opportunities to communicate with others in your local area. Neighborhoods also incorporate a local business 'Recommendations' feature, which is of marketing interest.
Communicate With Local Audiences
This could open up new avenues for insight and engagement, while Facebook would almost certainly eventually provide new ad options associated with Neighborhoods directly, to better communicate with local audiences.
Aware of Nextdoor's extreme moderation difficulties, Facebook says it will have a group of reviewers dedicated to Neighborhoods to review comments and posts to keep things "relevant and kind." It appears that indicted users can direct, strike up conversations, and do some light moderation within Communities' neighborhoods. The new Facebook section will also have to block functionality.
80% Rise in Users
Nextdoor saw an 80 percent rise in users early in the pandemic, with more and more people looking to engage with local communities to better help their neighbors and local businesses. Facebook groups also saw a huge increase, and by connecting the dots, Facebook is now utilizing the opportunity to create a Nextdoor counterpart into Facebook itself.
RESOURCES:
[1] https://about.fb.com/news/2021/05/connecting-local-communities-on-facebook/
[2] https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/05/facebook-neighborhoods-nextdoor/
Published by: Book Club