With almost every social media or networking websites encroaching on their territory, Mark Zuckerberg and co. are ready to strike a blow with the new Facebook subscriptions.
The problem was simple: You admire a celebrity or someone famous, but they either don't appear on Facebook (under their real name, anyway) or simply won't accept your friend request. The solution is even simpler -- taking a barely legal stab at Twitter, users need only click the "subscribe" button on the profiles of their favorite writers, actors and thinkers. Instead of adding someone like Richard Branson as a friend with whom you can interact, Facebook Subscriptions lets you follow the celebrity in question, seeing his updates without the ability to pester him with creepy messages.
In the end, everyone wins (sort of)! The celebrity garners a following while maintaining his or her privacy to a degree, while eager fans are supplied with all the morsels of info they could ask for.
Friend-Stalking Facilitations
Facebook Subscriptions Let You Build a Cult of Personality
Trend Themes
1. Social Media Subscriptions - Facebook Subscriptions allow users to follow celebrities and public figures without the need for friend requests and messages.
2. Privacy-enhancing Social Media - The ability to follow public figures' updates without being able to message them enhances privacy control.
3. Celebrity Branding - Celebrities can create a cult following and leverage their fame to increase their brand following.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - Social media platforms can capitalize on users' desire to follow public figures and celebrities in new and creative ways.
2. Celebrity and Influencer Marketing - Marketing agencies can leverage the cult followings created by social media subscriptions for influencer and celebrity marketing campaigns.
3. Privacy Technology - Companies in privacy technology can develop more effective and user-friendly tools for controlling online privacy.