Facebook unveils graph search

Commenting on Facebook’s new search tool, called Graph Search, Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, says: “Facebook is a bottomless pit of constantly-updated user information – and knowledge is power. Facebook is more than a social network – it’s a colossal data resource, and its global omniscience should be enough to make even search giant Google quake in its massive boots.

“Fortunately for Google, Graph Search isn’t designed to take on web search. It’s a personal, user-friendly and, we are told, ‘privacy aware’, way to answer queries and track people down more easily. And Facebook must prioritise security above all else, or risk alienating or losing users.

“In terms of the evolution of Facebook, this feels like the logical next step. And for connection purposes, be that friendship or dating, it is useful and intuitive.

“But it’s only as reliable and useful as the tags people use. Most of us don’t regularly update our favourite films lists on Facebook, for example. Because the extent of Graph Search is limited by security settings, it will probably result in users finding that responses to their queries are not as useful as hoped. This is particularly true for the clued-up younger Facebook generation, many of whom have tight security settings on their profiles.”