Trying to share links across different apps on a mobile device can be a painstaking process that involves switching between multiple applications, copying and pasting links. In order to boost the number of people that share links on Facebook the social network is reportedly testing an in-app keyword search engine which will allow users to search for articles and websites to share via status updates.
TechCrunch reports that some iOS users are now seeing an option to “Add A Link” in the app alongside the usual options to add photos or location to a status update.
This option can be used to make a query and Facebook will automatically bring up a list of matching links which can easily be added to the status update. The list appears to be populated by what people are sharing the most on Facebook and what they’re most likely to share on the social network.
Facebook confirmed to the scribe that it is indeed testing this feature, saying that it’s “piloting a new way” to add links to posts and comments.
This new option is only be tested out with select users in the United States for now but Facebook is most likely to release it for all of its one billion plus users if it makes sense to do so.
One advantage of adding this option would be the increase of news and content from major publishers being shared on Facebook, which is something the social network badly wants, reportedly.