In a bid to increase users engagement on its platform, Facebook has unveiled ‘Mentions’ app for celebrities on iPhone. The app is exclusive only to verified public figures such as actors, athletes, musicians, and government officials.
One of the main aims of the app is to allow these public figures more easily manage their Facebook presence and engage with fans on the social network. It lets users see what fans are saying in a dedicated mentions feed and start mobile Q&As. The News Feed is split into Following and Trending, which Facebook says will make it easier for celebrities to “add voice to the story”.
“Nearly 800 million people are connected to public figures on Facebook, and interacting with athletes, musicians, actors and other influencers is an important part of their experience. From cheering on World Cup players to checking out updates from favorite celebrities, there are more than a billion interactions between public figures and their fans on Facebook every week.”
said Facebook Product Manager Allison Swope in a blog post
The Mentions app for iPhone is only available for public figures with verified Pages in the US, so verified users without a dedicated page will not be able to access the app. However, Facebook said it plans to roll it out to more countries and verified profiles in the coming months.