Facebook Graph Search: How does it work

Facebook have a new feature currently being tested with a select number of users in the US. Facebook Social Graph Search -- the ability to search for stuff from your friends and from people who are not your friends on Facebook. So you can search for people who live near you, have the same interest as you -- Mark Zuckerberg has decided that Facebook is going to find you, your next date. The folks over at Facebook must have decided that everybody has found everybody and it's now time to get strangers introduced to each other and spice things up. Facebook Graph Search could be the answer -- there have been many reports on the web on how Facebook has been loosing so many active users. So here are a few Facts about Facebook Graph Search to help you get started.

1. Will all my Facebook photos, status updates and videos be found by strangers
The answer to this is 'Yes', all your posts, videos, photos and videos that you have made public will be available. If there are posts of videos or interests of yours that you don't want found by strangers. You will need to set you privacy options accordingly.

2. Will my Facebook Timeline be visible to other people who find me using Facebook Graph Search
Yes, you're Timeline is your new profile and when someone lands on your Facebook profile, your Timeline is visible with all your posts that you have made public.

3. Is this service opt-out or opt-in
None of the above. It will be rolled out to everyone eventually.

4. Can everyone see my current City, State and Country.
Yes - if you have made it public on your 'About' page. To set restrictions please go to your 'About' tab on your Timeline and change your privacy settings.

5. What can my friends' search for about me - can everything be searched.
Yes, again, whatever you have made public.

6. Give me some examples of things I can search for using Facebook Graph Search
Photos of my friends
People who live near me
People who like hiking
Restaurant nearby
Games my friends play
Photos I've liked
Photos my friends like
Places my family have visited

The above are a few examples. You can also use Facebook Graph Search to see all the stuff you have liked on Facebook and research more of your own activities on the site.

7. Fine, how do I get Facebook Graph Search
If you have not been invited to the initial beta launch -- you will need to signup for the waiting list. Please go here and scroll all the way down and click on 'Try Graph Search'. You will get an invite as soon as it is available in your area.

8. Why is it being called Graph Search
All your Facebook connections can be mapped using a graph - colorfully called a social graph. Connections between people can also be mapped on a graph and hence Graph Search.

9. So, is Facebook becoming a dating site?
yes, you can now use Facebook to find a date -- Facebook now seems to be the best choice.

10. How to find a date using Facebook Graph Search
Depends on your interests -- you can use graph search to find people who live in the same area as you and share common interests. If you want someone who does not like the things you like, fine, search for someone with varied interests and totally different from you. This might sound funny but this is where we feel Facebook is heading.

Please leave a comment below with what you think and other ways you think people are going to be using Facebook Graph Search.

Video below of Facebook Graph Search in action.
http://youtu.be/QpbFplgyU1U