Facebook is developing a Craigslist equivalent feature for its Messenger app that would enable users to buy and sell products in a well-structured marketplace.
The feature called "Local Market" was first reported by many users from Australia and New Zealand who saw it in their mobile app. According to reports from TechCrunch, the feature encompasses a well-defined marketplace that categorizes products into various sections like appliances, furniture, autos, clothing, books, etc.
Much like Craigslist, the feature allows users to upload pictures and descriptions. It also includes a buy and sell interface that has search capabilities, which users can use look up products, TechCrunch reported.
For the test, Facebook reportedly pulled postings from local "sale" groups, which, in fact, are also the inspiration behind the social network giant's idea of developing a Craigslist equivalent.
Drawing impressions from the pictures uploaded by users on Twitter, it appears that the app gives users the ability to customize their preferences through a set of filters, which they can use to review "collections," "everything free" and various other categories.
According to reports, for the test phase, Facebook went as far as prompting users to use the Local Market feature instead of using the local sale groups through a pop-up notification that said, “Reach more people near you. When you post in Local Market, people who live near you will see your item in Local Market under Favorites.”
While Facebook confirmed its Local Market test with TechCrunch, it declined to make any comments on the timeline of the product launch or provide any further details. “We are in the very early stages of testing new ways for more people to easily discover, buy and sell items with other people on Facebook,” a spokesperson told TechCrunch.
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