Facebook is launching a new feature to help you remember those special times. At the same time, it has designed a creative way to recycle users' data and images that are likely deeply buried down in posts and gathering digital dust in albums and are likely long forgotten.
The new Facebook feature, called "On This Day," comes in response to user feedback for an easy way to take a stroll down their digital memory lane.
"Today we're announcing On This Day, a new way to look back at things you have shared and posts you've been tagged in on Facebook. Only you can see your On This Day page," wrote Facebook product manager Jonathan Gheller in a blog post announcing the new feature on Tuesday, March 24.
The feature is pretty much as described: users can get a snapshot of what happened (well, what was shared on Facebook at least) as each day dawns.
"For example, you might see past status updates, photos, posts from friends and other things you've shared or been tagged in - from one year ago, two years ago, and so on. Only you will see this content unless you decide to share it with your friends," said Gheller.
To access the feature, users can click on the "On This Day" bookmark or visit facebook.com/onthisday. It could also pop up in the News Feed, noted Gheller.
Once you've got the "On This Day" page up, you can set up notifications that will let you know when memories are hitting the page. Users can edit and delete the posts or share them once again.
That's obviously what Facebook is hoping for: resharing of data already within reach, complete with a new social note to friends. Right now, the feature is in testing, noted the Facebook announcement.
There is no definite date on the rollout, although Facebook says it will be available on the web and on mobile apps. One media report claims it will be showing up on users' Facebook pages in the next few days.
It's not the first time Facebook has tried to find a new way to bring up old posts and images as part of a new content service. Last year, a different feature, called "Year in Review," bombed with users as it brought back images and posts that many users were not enthusiastic to relive or remember.
Facebook says it's avoiding the issue with an algorithm used in creating "On This Day."
Facebook supposedly isn't seeking to make money off the feature but obviously getting more site activity from its 890 million members isn't a bad thing.
