Facebook Could Take on Upstart Pinterest With Two Words: ‘Want Button’

Facebook was, before Pinterest, the main social media destination for people to dump their most-wanted items, perhaps to serve as a sort of virtual closet-cum-wishlist.

Sharing wants on Facebook can almost work to create a brand persona for individuals — even if your closet is filled with Target masstige items, you can convey to friends that your the sort of person who appreciates Birkin bags and Jimmy Choo shoes, and instead of the McRib you’re currently snacking upon, you’re the type to kick back with grapefruit moscato sangria and fig camembert crostinis.

But Pinterest moved into a space Facebook never necessarily tried to occupy, allowing a mostly female user base to cultivate a more dynamic online persona — one of someone who is well-dressed, in charge of their kitchen, with a superbly-appointed home.

And not surprisingly, the idea caught on like wildfire, with pinners across many nations using the site to organize items and ideas visually as well as giving them a place to share those items without the encumbrance of a more committed (Facebook-style) friendship.

However, it’s rumored that much like when Foursquare began gaining steam with check-ins, Facebook is gearing up to cut into the space with the introduction of a native competitor — this time, in the form of a Facebook “want” button.

According to the Los Angeles Times, rumors of a Facebook want button gained credence this week with the observation of a random web developer who noticed a new Facebook command:

“The developer, Tom Waddington, said the button’s code appeared in Facebook’s Javascript SDK as a tag that reads ‘,’ and he has somehow gotten it to show up on his website, although it’s still a work in progress… The button looks like Facebook’s Like button and all its other buttons in that it has blue wording on top of a light blue bubble, but it also includes an icon with a plus button, based off of the one on Waddington’s website. If you click it now, it’ll say your name followed by ‘wants this.’ However, it’ll also give you a very red ‘Error’ message.”

Would you ditch Pinterest if Facebook added a “want” button?