Facebook released a new app last week that's tailored toward celebrities—and celebrities only. It's called Facebook Mentions, and it lets verified celebrities post new messages and updates, but not read anyone else's things. (Because when you're a celeb, who cares about anyone else?)
But Facebook isn't fooling William Shatner. He recently took to his Tumblr to post a long review of the app, calling it "ill conceived," while admitting that the app didn't push him far enough to even want to follow his old friend George Takei, or keep following Robert Downey, Jr.
I already have the Facebook App, the Pages App and now the Mentions App is on my device. So I seem to be in the best position to compare them.
When you install the Mentions App you cannot proceed further until you follow another one of their other ‘celebrity’ accounts. The first person on the list I was given was George Takei (rolling my eyes.) I ended up choosing Robert Downey Jr. to follow and then I hid his posts (sorry Robert!) I think that is a big flaw in the set up. If this app is for celebrities then WHY force them to follow another celebrity in order to set up this app? I think that is a flaw; I’m already following those who I want to follow - why insist I follow that short list of others?
He stacks up Mentions against the Facebook Pages app, which everyone can use, and there were some things he liked a little more on Pages, and things he didn't like on either app, namely when it came to posting content:
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Ultimately, Mentions wasn't enough to keep Shatner from using Pages. "I’m not quite sure why Facebook released this app for 'celebrities'," he says. "It seems to be ill conceived. I will probably use it to post to my Facebook when I’m on my phone but it doesn’t allow for mail or groups. I will continue to use my regular Facebook App as well as the Pages app."
Boom. Right in the kisser. Read the whole post here.
