Facebook gifts will be unveiling a new, real-life gift-giving feature that can potentially stir up some controversy between friends and relationships. By default, the new Facebook Gifts feature will appear on all Facebook Timeline pages which will make a normally private gesture, very public!
I would not recommend sending Facebook Gifts to just anyone. Send gifts to close friends on their birthdays and other special occasions. Remember to keep the gift appropriate to your relationship with the recipient and the occasion. For example, sending a $10 Starbucks gift certificate to thank a co-worker for a job well done is completely appropriate; a pricy box of chocolates or teddy bear is not.
Of course Facebook gives the option of posting your gesture to recipients Timeline or keeping the entire transaction private. In most cases, the private option is most likely best. No matter whom your gift recipient is, it can cause your Facebook friends to gossip about the gift given, amount spent, etc. You can choose not to share the gift on your friends timeline by un-checking the “Share Gift on [Friend’s] Timeline” option at the top of the order-review page. No personal messages that you send along with the gift will appear on your friend’s Timeline, but will be sent in a private note to the recipient.
Another downside to the new Facebook Gifts is that the overall surprise factor of receiving a gift becomes somewhat diminished. When a friend sends a gift through Facebook, the recipient will get a notification asking for a shipping address. While you will be unaware of what your friend will be gifting to you, it can still be somewhat of a buzz kill, especially if the gift was just because or originally meant to be a surprise. With the Facebook Gifts program, friends also need to pay attention to timing. When you receive a gift notification, it will arrive in both your Facebook inbox and as an email to the address that is connected to your Facebook account. If you do not respond within two weeks, the gift will be cancelled.
Facebook should roll out its new gift feature within the next few weeks.
Are you looking forward to the new Facebook Gifts or would you rather stick to giving friends and loved ones gifts the traditional way?