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May 23, 2007

Caught in the BlogosphereFacebook launches marketplace

Not wanting to be left behind by the likes of MySpace's classifieds or even Craig's List, Facebook launched its own "Marketplace" on May 14. Here's how Facebook's Jared Morgenstern describes it:

    As of today, Facebook has fully rolled out our new Marketplace feature. You can use Marketplace to list what you have and what you want within your group of friends, networks, or other networks. Beyond its use for classified listings, you can use Marketplace to get a sense of everything available or desired within your networks.

Taking a look at the Detroit, Mich., marketplace (membership required for viewing), I found everything from apartment listings, a Buick Grand National with 15,000 miles on it, designer handbags, and snakes. Yes, snakes on a Facebook page, if you will...

Facebook is definitely NOT the first to start a classified service aimed at college kids. As Mashable reports, there's already a huge crop of sites to choose from. But in terms of new Facebook initiatives, this might be one of Facebook's better choices.

While I'm now not sure how long the virtual gifts are going to make it, despite a new item being launched daily, the marketplace looks like it's set to take off. Selling textbooks or looking for a summer subleaser seem much more practical to the college mindset than a $1 pixelated jock strap.

Not a Facebook member? Check out this visual tour of the marketplace Digg created.

Posted by Alicia Dorset at May 23, 2007 10:37 AM

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