News has it that Facebook is working on a new feature that will show users what they have in common with others around the world. Reportedly named “things in common”, the new feature will connect users with strangers.
The feature that’s being currently tested, analyses interests, employment history and public groups you share in common with random users.
When you browse others’ profiles on Facebook you might have noticed that there are so many things you have in common with them; be it your school/college/company or even a Facebook group.
Become a certified Digital Marketer who everyone wants to hire!
“Knowing shared things in common helps people connect,” a Facebook spokeswoman said in a statement. “We’re testing adding a ‘things in common’ label that will appear above comments from people who you’re not friends with but you might have something in common with.”
This feature is now available to a handful of users and might be available to everyone soon if things work out well.
Sounds like yet another cool idea from Facebook, but you might want to be the devil’s advocate and think how it will impact your online safety. Facebook currently has a Suggested Friends feature that shows people you might be interested in, based on mutual friendships.
The “things in common” feature takes Suggested Friends a step ahead by recommending shared interests and other commonalities with strangers. While this sounds exciting; a great conversation starter and an opportunity to connect with like-minded people, it still opens up ways for complete strangers to connect with purposes that might not be in the interest of your online safety.
As you might know, the internet poses a stranger danger, and there are a thousand stories of online stalking, grooming, and cyberbullying from strangers. Therefore it is important you exercise caution while connecting with strangers while making friends based on the “things with common” feature.