Advertisement
Facebook
Tech

Facebook to launch new shopping feature across apps including WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram

  • Facebook is launching Shops, a service that will allow businesses to display and sell products on the world’s largest social network’s platforms
  • The move to build up e-commerce offerings follows Facebook’s launch last year of limited shopping options on Instagram and WhatsApp

Reading Time:1 minute
Why you can trust SCMP
A screen shows Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announcing on May 19, 2020, Facebook Shops, a new e-commerce service that allows businesses to list their products on Facebook and Instagram free of charge. Photo: Kyodo
Reuters
Facebook is launching Shops, a service that will allow businesses to display and sell products on the world’s largest social network’s platforms, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday.
Advertisement
The move to build up e-commerce offerings follows Facebook’s launch last year of limited shopping options on photo-sharing app Instagram and messaging app WhatsApp. Company leaders wager making the platforms more business-friendly will generate fresh ad revenue, even as user growth slows.

Facebook Shops will tie at least some of those efforts together, enabling businesses to set up a single online store accessible via both Facebook and Instagram.

A checkout feature will enable in-app purchases, while a more deeply integrated messaging feature will allow customers to chat with businesses through WhatsApp, Messenger or Instagram Direct.

Zuckerberg also said the world’s largest social network would be working more closely on product integrations with Shopify and seven other online commerce platforms going forward. He had Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke join him in a live-streamed video announcing the partnerships.

Shopify’s shares sank after the initial Facebook Shops launch, then rebounded following Lütke’s appearance. Shares of both companies were up over 2 per cent in afternoon US trade.

Advertisement