Facebook to offer buying-selling platform?

In the near future, Facebook would no longer remain just the socialising platform - it would also likely become a marketplace.

A smartphone user shows the Facebook application on his phone in the central Bosnian town of Zenica. (Reuters)

In the near future, Facebook would no longer remain just the socialising platform - it would also likely become a marketplace.

The social networking giant is testing a dedicated buying and selling community called 'Local Market', powered by Facebook groups.

A number of Facebook users recently reported seeing the new feature appearing briefly in their Facebook iPhone app, sometimes in place of the "Messenger" button, Tech Crunch reported.

The feature, which is only in testing but not broadly distributed, is a more structured marketplace aimed at buyers and sellers, allowing Facebook users to browse through or post items to sell across a variety of product categories like autos, appliances, furniture, clothing, household, kids, books, and much more.

The new section included both a 'Buy' and 'Sell' interface, as well as a way to search across the marketplace for particular items using keywords.

Items available for sale are categorised, and include photos and prices.