Facebook may compete with Olx, Quikr: Report

Facebook has decided to test "Marketplace", a facility will linkbuyers and sellers in India, reports say.

"Marketplace"is a service which connects buyers and sellers, without charging anythingand it makes reselling goods via mobiles or computers aseamless affair.

Indian users mostly engage in selling or buying jewellery and accessories, household goods, electronics, and apparel, a media report said. Facebook has decided not to create any particular categories as yet, hoping that once people start listing their products the categories will be formed.

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Karandeep Anand, director,product management, Facebook, said that most Indians use social media platforms to "buy or sell products". With the use of marketplace, Facebook aims to create an easier "user experience, motivate people to engage"and add "economic activity locally."

Over 550 million Facebook users visit different groups on the page - which sell or buy items, globally. Thus, making up for a quarter of its 2 billion active monthly users.

Anand asserts that sellers are common people like students, artisans or NGOs. Therefore, instead of building a full-fledged e-commerce environment, Facebook aims to target its users and further present better tools.

Facebook also intends to providetools related to privacy in order to limit information given by users, and also introducemachine learning which prohibits users from listing products like guns, cigarettes, alcohol and such items. Users will also be able to report fake accounts or ban items.