Facebook is following in the footsteps of Twitter and introducing a “Save” bookmarking function for its desktop and mobile apps, much like the “favourite” option on the latter social network.
The new feature – that will roll out over the coming weeks for iOS and Android apps and desktop site – lets users store links from the News Feed and Facebook Pages for Places, Events, Movies, TV shows and Music to a list where they can be viewed later.
Consequently, although it doesn’t cache links like Pocket or Instapaper, it should give Facebook users a quick way to store links and content without constantly navigating away from the app or website.
The move comes two years after Facebook’s acquisition of read-it-later startup Spool.
Although the full functionality of the “Save” function might not be available in the UK as of yet, here is how it will work.
The “Save” button – a little bookmark icon – resides in the bottom right of stories in the mobile and web News Feed, and you can also save by using the drop-down menu indicated by a small arrow in the top right of each story.
On Facebook Pages for Places, Events, TV shows, musicians, etc, there will be a more prominent “Save” button next to the Like or RSVP options.
Saved items can be accessed via the web homage’s left sidebar list of bookmarks, and the More apps list on mobile. That apps list is where little-used functions such as Nearby Places and Nearby Friends are also hidden, meaning that “Save” too could end up being forgotten by users.
Unlike the Favourites tab on Twitter, Saved links on Facebook will be private. From the Saved tab, you will have the option to share links with friends or archive them.
Facebook has released a brief blog post covering the new feature, and released an official video too – which you can check out below:
