Here’s how Facebook’s new Trending feature is different from Twitter’s

Facebook has announced a new feature called Trending that shows users the most popular topics being discussed on the social network.

The new feature is set to roll out to users in a few countries, including the U.S., on the Web version of Facebook. Users can find the Trending section toward the top right corner of the screen.

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Trending on Facebook is very similar to a feature that’s been around on Twitter for years, but Facebook managed to make its version of it slightly different than Twitter’s in two ways. Here’s how:

Personalization
Facebook said Trending won’t just show users the most popular topics. Instead, the feature will make sure it shows users trending topics that matter to them based on their interests.

Summarization

Additionally, Facebook’s version of trends will also give users a brief headline summary of what a current topic is trending. For example, if a TV show is trending, Facebook may explain that it is because its new season has been announced or because the current season finale is currently airing. The feature will give users context -- something not found on Twitter’s version of the feature.

It remains to be seen whether Trending will prove to be a popular feature, but it appears to be a part of Facebook’s strategy to keep users engaged with the social network by becoming their main destination for news.

Recently, Facebook said it had adjusted its News Feed to prioritize news over other types of content. The company is also rumored to be readying a new service that will compete with Flipboard, a mobile app that specializes in delivering news content to users in the form of a personalized magazine.

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