Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has launched a new app for celebrities and public figures for the iOS platform, which will speed up their interaction with the fans. Through the app, Facebook Mentions, users can read the dedicated mentions feed and start mobile Q&As. On the top of their personal pages, the users will see the activities from other celebrities and media. Also, users can get into a discussion over a trending topic.
Verified public page a must
The online social networking website is targeting the premium users with the new app, which means that it can only be accessed by public figures with verified pages. Those users who do not have verified pages will be not be given access to this page. Brands and media are not able to access the Facebook Mentions, but the company will offer this app to the verified users, and will also roll-out in other countries, in the future.
However, Facebook executives say that the new app will be open for the hundreds of thousands of the users at the launch, and the numbers will swell once it is made available to the rest of the world.
Tyrese Gibson’s video featuring Dr. Dre celebrating the $3 billion Beats/Apple deal has already been on the Facebook Mention before the deal was closed. However, the video was taken down after few hours. Facebook executives are happy that the video was posted on the platform.
Many celebrities already using this Facebook app
Along with the app, Facebook also revealed some numbers related to the public figures accounts. The social networker said that around 800 million people are connected to those with verified pages, also, more than a billion interactions per week are noted between public figures and their fans.
Many celebrities and public figures are already using the app, including Mariah Carey, Whoopi Goldberg, Josh Duhamel, Ed Sheeran, Austin Mahone, Tyrese Gibson, Rachel Zoe, Arianna Huffington, Bill Nye and Nick Kristof. The social networker claims that these celebrities now generate much more content each day.
Both Twitter and Facebook understand the fact that high-profile members can boost the growth significantly, and this tool would push such growth-generators to become more involved with the platform.
Facebook is set to post second-quarter results on Wednesday, July 23 after market close followed by a live conference.
