Facebook's Graph Search - Finally a Leap in the Search Space?

Mark Zuckberg has just announced Facebook's latest feature earlier today, the Graph Search. It is though still in a beta version and I have yet to actually try out the new search function. Facebook only gives an introductory page about this new hype for now.

Graph search leverages on Facebook's existing capital of social network, by 'exploiting' users' connections and their information and online activities. It also aims to provide better search result of recommendations such as restaurants, music, and sports by analysing users' preferences and regional statistics.

I have been frustrated by Facebook's current search function many times. It only seems to work when I have the exact name of the person you want to look up and even that might take me quite a while if I am searching a person called John Smith. I can't refine my search result using more filters such like schools, companies or any other. The lack of such an advanced search tool deteriorates the whole search experience in Facebook. 

Facebook is deemed to have what it takes to compete with Google in the search space. Considering its massive base of 800 million active users, any ads and search results on Facebook would be more accurately targeted as it simply knows the users better than Google. Facebook citizens may also find the results more relevant because his/her friends could be somehow related to it. 

Definitely, one of the most critical concerns is about privacy. Facebook has been emphasising privacy protections by providing privacy settings in every single details. This time, it reassures users that the privacy settings will remain the same and only people with the right access will be provided the search result using that private information. But it may drive away some users because this means that their private information could be put at higher risk than ever.

It's good to see Facebook bringing on some competition against Google, as Microsoft and Yahoo! have failed miserably. Though it still has a long way to go before it has its own territory in search space. Google has much more sophiscated search algorithm and its user statistics are massively huge. Advertisers may be reluctant to shift themselves to Facebook if they do not see a distinct improvement. These are all challenges Facebook is facing, and they are not easy.

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