Facebook Marketplace to soon show ‘Offers’

Facebook’s Marketplace had rolled out in India early 2018. The OLX-like platform aims to help users sell and purchase products from others.

Facebook to launch a new update for Marketplace users (REUTERS)

Facebook's Marketplace will soon allow users to post “Offers”. The feature is still in the development phase. 

Spotted by reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong, the Marketplace shows a new tab for these offers. The screenshots shared by Wong don't reveal much other than the feature is being tested.

Facebook had rolled out Marketplace in India in early 2018. The tab on the Facebook app allows users to sell and purchase items. The feature was officially launched in 2016. The platform aims to compete with the likes of OLX. Apart from selling and purchasing items, the Marketplace allows users to set the geographical radius for the listing, and offers a wide category ranging from electronics to bicycles.

I was told the watermarks were a little too disruptive

I agree, here a version without the watermarks pic.twitter.com/e7OIWNzbPT

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) May 17, 2020

Facebook's Marketplace, like other similar platforms, faces a bunch of problems such as credibility of listings. Facebook earlier this year started using a new system to monitor Marketplace in order to crackdown on users trying to bypass the company's regulations for the sale of items such as medical face masks. 

"We are temporarily banning advertisements and commerce listings that sell medical face masks. Our teams are monitoring the COVID19 situation closely and will make necessary updates to our policies if we see people trying to exploit this public health emergency," Facebook had said.