Facebook Launches Mentions, An iOS App To Help Public Figures Connect With Fans

Facebook’s latest app is not for you, unless you are a public figure.

The new iOS app, Facebook Mentions, will make it easier for celebrities and other public figures to interact with fans on the social network.

Here’s the explanation from Facebook product manager Allison Swope:

Nearly 800 million people are connected to public figures on Facebook, and interacting with athletes, musicians, actors and other influencers is an important part of their experience. From cheering on World Cup players to checking out updates from favorite celebrities, there are more than a billion interactions between public figures and their fans on Facebook every week.

The app makes it easier for celebrities to participate in those interactions by surfacing public posts that mention them. And that will make it simpler for savvy celebrities to jump in like Tyrese Gibson did in this example provided by Facebook (click image to enlarge):

The app also allows for posting updates, sharing photos and videos and hosting live Q&As and displays “streamlined notifications about your posts, including mentions from other influencers or the media.”

The app is available now for download from the Apple store, but can only be used by administrators of verified Pages for public figures (not brands) in the United States. Facebook said it plans to give access to more countries and verified Profiles in the coming months.