Facebook already knows some basic details about you like where you live, what you like and people you generally tend to hangout with. So, it is easier for Facebook to tell you what you should be doing tonight.
It was by accident that Facebook became a powerful force for party invitations. Having got to that spot, Facebook is now taking things one more step ahead and presenting us with an omniscient view of event landscape.
The new event browsing experience is a powerful new iOS app that has been unveiled today. The app also gives you the freedom to surf specific events that you are looking for tonight rather than random dates. You can also surf events on a day of your choosing when that is more convenient. Another feature is the ‘suggested for you’ section that is compiled based on your personal data available with Facebook. In this section, you will also find multiple categories such as FB, Music, Nightlife, Community, Performing Arts and so on. The listings can also be sorted by date, so you know the right place to be at the right time.
And, if you are an extrovert on the move, you can also adjust the location, so you know what goes on in a city that you are in, or even peek at events in distant locations.
Interestingly, Facebook has scored over other companies in the art of chasing event discovery. There is a bunch of them focusing on events and the likes of Eventbrite, Foursquare, are bound to fall by the wayside with the kind of compact service that Facebook has now brought into your hands. Once you start experiencing the new app, you will immediately realize that Facebook undoubtedly has acquired complete or near total knowledge of all events across cities and regions. When you also consider the limited financial interest Facebook has in steering to one of the events listed, it leaves very little room for any kind of competition. In short Facebook is into the act of matching people to parties – and that should be some matchmaking!
Facebook does realize that by getting you out to those events and parties, they get lesser time from you on the browser. But, the structured event discovery which no other competitor can presently offer appears to bridge the gap. Obviously, you would be buying tickets, making friends and telling them how Facebook has discovered this virtual goldmine. Facebook knows only too well that more people on their site mean more revenue for them.