Let's face it. Limited to finding people and web results provided by Microsoft's Bing engine, Facebook's search function has never been ideal. On December 8, 2014, Facebook began rolling out their new, updated search feature which will make it easier for users to search for specific posts. This means that a search query on Facebook will now provide results that are, well, actually related to Facebook.
The update however, has come with a price: Bing search just had to go.
On December 12, Reuters broke the news, citing a Facebook spokesperson who said:
We’re not currently showing Web search results in Facebook search because we’re focused on helping people find what’s been shared with them on Facebook. We continue to have a great partnership with Microsoft in lots of different areas.
Is Microsoft upset about this unfriending? Can the drama-loving public expect some sort of crazy-ex backlash? Not really. In fact, the partnership between these two tech giants is still completely intact, and Microsoft is handling it all very well according, to VentureBeat :
Facebook recently changed its search experience to focus on helping people tap into information that’s been shared with them on Facebook versus a broader set of Web results. We continue to partner with Facebook in many different areas.
For old time's sake, let's have a look at what Face-Bing was like while it lasted:
June 2010: Bing's logo begins to appear in Facebook's Graph Search .
August 2012: Microsoft announces that Facebook users can search friend's photos via Bing.
December 2012: Bing's Social Sidebar gets an appearance makeover.
March 2013: The update of Bing's Desktop application tightens Facebook integration .
May 2013: Bing's Social Sidebar allows engagement with Facebook posts .
December 2014: As the new year approaches and we saying our farewells to 2014, after a great four year run, Facebook must finally say bye-bye Bing.
