Facebook is reportedly set to introduce Twitter-style hashtags to its news feed, as the social network looks to find more ways of grouping users together for ad targeting.
On Twitter, the now iconic hashtag symbol is used as a way to group conversations and follow discussions and developing events in real time.
However, hashtags predate Twitter and first appeared in online chat rooms before the microblogging site even existed.
The symbol has since made its way on to several other major social networking sites, including Pinterest and Google+. They also tend to pop up on adverts and in TV shows. #pleasetweetaboutourproduct.
It is unclear how far along Facebook’s work on the hashtag is and the feature isn’t likely to be introduced imminently, these people said.
Instagram, which Facebook acquired last year, already uses hashtags, allowing users to sort photos by the symbol.
Facebook’s work on a hashtag is a sign of the heightening battle between Facebook and Twitter, as both compete for mobile users and fight for advertising dollars.
Read the WSJ report here.
