Why Facebook wants an RSS reader or news aggregator? June 16, 2013Social Network0 Comments

This week, social networking juggernaut Facebook is expected to unveil a brand new product that would give them the opportunity to generate more revenue. Yup, it’s all about revenue.

According to Techcrunch, this new product is an RSS reader, while others say Facebook will “reinvent” the RSS and put its own news aggregator similar to Google News.

And then there’s this theory that this new RSS reader will be a standalone app, similar to other Facebook services like Messenger and Pages — but what does this RSS do?

Looking at the number of downloads provided by Google’s Play Store for RSS feed apps like Pulse, Flipboard and similar services — we can conclude that there’s money in the RSS. Pulse as our example, around 10 million to 50 million Android users are using Pulse, the “pick your own source” news service.

For me, the word “coffee” alone (printed in the Facebook invitation) is a clue that the event will focus on delivering news — and there’s money in news.

With its own news feed aggregator or RSS reader, Facebook can expand the reach of its advertising business, not only inside the social networking site, but to this new service. Facebook can deliver smartphone ads on an RSS reader’s tech section, or bump a clothing ad on celebrity section, etc, etc.

Are you willing to share your news addiction with Facebook? The Facebook coffee event is scheduled on the 20th of June.

 

Article by Carlo Raphael Diokno, posted under Facebook, Android.

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