Facebook is most definitely a fan of making minor changes to its layout. But due to a massive expansion plan, many Facebook users have been offered a whole new look to add to their current profile. The new Facebook timeline is being rolled out slowly across the globe, enabling users to share photos, statuses and pretty much everything chronologically. But that’s not all. The social media giant has unveiled over 60 new apps, making sharing even more personal. As apps get ever more present on Facebook, IT freelance professionals involved with app building may find opportunities within social networks in the future.
The added apps will make user activity more apparent, including what news articles they are reading and what games they are playing. Tech watchers have appropriately branded the expansion as “frictionless sharing”, referring to the easily accessible activity that is now available to users.
"We think that thousands of applications will be built on this platform in the coming weeks and months," stated Carl Sjogreen, director of platform products for Facebook.
So why so many apps? It is widely believed among technology professionals that Facebook’s latest move is an attempt to make users stay online longer and to attract more advertising revenue in the process. Furthermore, Facebook’s latest timeline platform aims to create ‘virtual scrapbooks’ of user’s lives, speaking volumes for the importance of social networking sites in the future.
Although Facebook use and declined slightly of late, the social network isn’t giving up that easily. While these new developments will interconnect Facebook users even more, IT freelance professionals should be more concerned with how Facebook’s latest venture can work for them. More and more businesses are turning to app development to push sales and who wouldn’t want to be featured on one of the biggest social networks in the world? IT contractors concerned with app development may see more opportunities concerning Facebook in the future as the app craze continues into 2012.