Facebook launches Marketplace app for sellers, adds free verification system

Facebook is rolling out updates today in an effort to increase engagement and make the platform more organized for its users. In the near future, there are new apps for sellers on Marketplace; Verification system to prove you are a human on services such as Dating, Marketplace and Groups; New immersive video design.

Facebook Marketplace sees over 430 million monthly listings, and with over 1.1 billion active users, this is a big reason why young people continue to use the platform.

To keep the momentum going, Facebook is launching a separate app for people who frequently list and sell items on the platform. Called Seller, the app allows sellers to manage their listings, message buyers, and track the performance of items.

Facebook is also rolling out a free verification system called Facebook Verified, not to be confused with Meta Verified, which lets you sign up for a verification tag and other features.

The new system allows people to take a selfie to verify them as a real user, after which a verification mark will appear on their profile across Facebook Dating, Marketplace and Groups. Verified looks like a check mark inside a white circle, unlike the blue badge you can get by paying for Meta Verified.

The company said it’s also testing an optional, immersive, full-screen video display for the Facebook app that pops up once you open it. This update will initially roll out in “video-heavy” international markets, and will make its way to the US next year.

Facebook said users can turn off this UI to return to the feed-based interface. The company tested a similar update with Instagram in several markets.

New app releases are turning into a routine workflow for Meta, which has intensified its app development to engage different groups of users. In May, it debuted a Reddit-like app for Facebook groups called Forum, and this month it released a coding app called Pocket.

The company said it plans to add artificial intelligence to the app to help users automate tasks such as writing descriptions of items they want to put up for sale, or searching through groups to answer questions.