- Image via CrunchBase
Yahoo! is to import personal updates from Facebook in its attempt to revamp its Website and bring two of the most popular sites in the world even closer. As a result, Yahoo! users, who also have Facebook accounts, will now be able to view their Facebook ‘News Feed’ throughout Yahoo’s Website, including the front page and electronic mail service. In addition, Yahoo! users will also be able to share their activities on other Yahoo! services such as Flickr, with ‘friends’ on the world’s most popular social networking site.
As social media, particularly Facebook, becomes more popular, Yahoo hopes that by connecting with Facebook, they will be able to reduce bounce rates by keeping more visitors on site for longer periods and sell more online advertisement in a bid to increase its declining revenue growth. Other features of the ties will be the ability to link Yahoo! profiles with that of Facebook and distribute media or data from Yahoo! Answers, video or music services with ‘friends’ on Facebook.
In the near future, Yahoo! intends to import similar updates from Twitter and popular Zynga online games such as Farmville, Fishville and Mafia Wars. However, while the transformation into social media progresses, the organisation is likely to become more prone to accusations of privacy breaches leveled against the likes of Facebook and a backlash from current Yahoo! users who are not fans of Facebook or those who just prefer to use both networks separately.
Talking Point
Some Internet users have accused Yahoo! of demonstrating a lack of focus. Do you think Yahoo! can successfully transform itself from a news portal/email provider to a social hub?