Facebook to allow users to follow non-friends updates
Facebook is to allow its users to follow public updates from non-friends for the first time with the launch of a new subscription feature.
The social network is introducing the option in a clear bid to match the functionality of sites such as Twitter and Google+ which already make it easy for popular individuals to broaden their reach beyond close friends.
Touted as a mechanism for handing more control to users as to what content is displayed in their news feed it will allow people to more readily stalk famous celebrities and prominent bloggers an opportunity to broaden their audience reach.
Facebook's Zach Rait said in a blog post: "Until now, it hasn't been easy to choose exactly what you see in your News Feed. Maybe you don't want to see every time your brother plays a game on Facebook, for example. Or maybe you'd like to see more stories from your best friends, and fewer from your coworkers.
"You also couldn't hear directly from people you're interested in but don't know personally—like journalists, artists and political figures.
"With the Subscribe button, we're making it easier to do both."