By: Lauren Zaremba (University of Delaware)
Follow Lauren on Twitter
Facebook is currently testing a “subscribe” button with a select number of users. This button will allow Facebookers to receive notifications when the people they follow update their status, upload pictures and other actions.
This setting has officially made stalking easier for all of us. Now, we no longer have to spend the three seconds it takes to type the person’s name in the search bar to see if they’ve uploaded new pictures, updated their status or have written on someone elses wall. We only have to click a button and let Facebook do all the legwork.
I don’t know about you, but I’m wondering if you will be able to subscribe to people you are not friends with? Will notifications include ‘likes’ and comments?
My biggest question, however, is if you will be able to see who is subscribed to you.
Facebook released this statement regarding the setting earlier today:
“This feature is being tested with a small percent of users. It lets people subscribe to friends and pages to receive notifications whenever the person they’ve subscribed to updates their status or posts new content (photos, videos, links, or notes).”
Clearly this is Facebook’s answer to Twitter. First you could tag people in your posts with the ‘@’ button. Now you can follow them as well. Dear Facebook, stop trying to be Twitter. Dear Twitter, stop trying to Facebook. There’s enough room for both of you in our lives.
What do you think of this stalker setting? Will you use it if given the chance? Sound off in the comments!
Photos via All Facebook
