Facebook’s New Graph Search – Simplified!

Like many companies these days, it seems that Facebook may be running out of cool names for new features. With the announcement this week of the new “Graph Search”, I’ve heard from several people who are already intimidated by this new addition and it hasn’t even been released yet!

So, I want to help you alleviate any fears right now. Because, despite the scary name (Mashable has already offered up several alternative names), Facebook’s Graph Search has the potential to be something really awesome.

In a nutshell, Graph Search is going to allow you to search for stuff based on your friends, family, coworkers, etc. Now, instead of posting “What’s everyone listening to” and waiting an hour for everyone to give their opinion, you will be able to search for “music or bands my friends like” and have a list to choose from.

Here’s a video from Facebook with more on how Graph Search works – Introducing Graph Search

And, like most things on Facebook, Graph Search results about you are determined by your privacy settings. Click here to see how your privacy choices decide what shows up in your friends’ searches.

Since it is in beta right now, only a handful of users have access to it and sadly, I’m not one of them yet. Emily Price however did get to try it out and has shared some screenshots and insights with us in her Hands-on Facebook Graph Search article released today.

I’m sure there will be some tweaks and changes – maybe even a new name – before the official roll out to everyone but, all-in-all I can see some real potential here. It is definitely a smarter way to search when you can take into account the likes and interests of your friends and coworkers. The possibilities are truly endless.

What are you most looking forward to looking for on Graph Search?