Facebook to Launch New Buttons Including 'Watched' and 'Want'

Like the "Like" button on Facebook? How about the new profile sidebar rolling out to select users this week? Seen it yet? How 'bout this one? Is joining forces with Twitter a good idea? Certainly a lot of innovation brewing all in just one week!

Just when the world was settling in to all the changes at Facebook, it's time to shake thing up yet again. According to TechCrunch, the world's most popular SNS will be announcing at its f8 conference this week, new buttons on user walls very similar in concept to the "Like" button.

So far the rumor is the new buttons will be "Watched," "Read," and "Listened" with a fourth button, "Want" to be rolled out later (presumably closer to the holiday season) which will greatly expand the "Like" concept by defining exactly what it is users watch, listen to, read and, of course, want.

It took a while for users to actually like the "Like" button. At first, FBers were confused, and soon they became annoyed. But now it's so ubiquitous web surfers feel cheated by websites which don't offer the sharing option (which are relatively few and dying off like post-meteor dinosaurs.) This expansion can only add to the pile-up of content helping even the most mundane web pages go viral in a flash.

Of course, it does crowd up the screen a bit. And eyeball overload is death to new concepts. But that "Want" button has great potential—for serious disappointment. It just makes it easier for FB users to subtly hint what they want for the big day, whatever it may be.

And just as easily it could be the biggest dream crusher ever created. Imagine telling your loved one you can't afford that bauble they just watched, listened to, or read on Facebook.

Maybe the "Like" button was a good thing?

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

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