QR codes have slowly been gaining traction among advertisers and publishers in the U.S., but they may finally be about to break through to the consumer conscious — Facebook appears to be testing QR codes on its profile pages.
According to TechCrunch:
"We’ve gotten a number of tips in our inbox in the past 10 minutes so it’s safe to assume it’s not a hoax or anything: Facebook appears to have started enabling users to generate custom two-dimensional QR codes.
From the looks of the screenshot embedded above, there are two types of QR codes: a personal barcode or a “status QR barcode”. This also seems to appear on Facebook Fan Pages."
Neither of those implementations are particularly revolutionary. Basically, if Facebook rolls this out for all users, it will enable people (and brands) to place links to their Facebook pages in the real world. When a smartphone user links over the code, they'll be directly to a Facebook profile.
LostRemote has documented some of the varied uses that could take off:
"I can already see it now: QR code bumper stickers tied to users’ FB profiles, QR code t-shirts, stickers, and other physical embodiments of their digital selves. Transporting one’s Facebook profile into the real world via 2D barcodes, could trigger social connections beyond the confines of the digital space. QR codes could succeed in letting people’s Facebook identities live in the real world."
But the real issue here is that it will expose the average consumer to the notion of QR codes. Brands have been using QR codes for awhile, but most consumers still don't know what they are.
Even at SxSW this year, many of the techies gathered in Austin didn't know what to do with them. The event organizers put QR codes on all of the attendees' badges. But for the most part, they went unscanned. In that case, there was a usability issue. From CNET:
"While a terrific concept in principle and clearly meant with the best of intentions, it seems that many people either aren't using the QR code system, don't understand it, or have abandoned it after an initial attempt, often because they are first taken to a mobile URL asking for their my.sxsw login information, a stumbling block that for those who made it past this step is not repeated on subsequent uses."
If Facebook gets the implementation right and makes it easy for Facebookers to use, this could be a huge step for QR code adoption. As Hitwise announced today, Facebook is now the most popular website in the U.S.
If a site like that started getting users in the habit of using QR codes, then they could start using them in many other places. Of course, there is the barrier of visuals. Unless explained by surrounding text or images, there is no way to know where a QR code will take you until you scan it. If Facebook started giving out little branded QR codes and stickers to its users, they may finally get the wider acceptance that many brand marketers have been hoping for.
Of course there's the fact that most Facebook users don't have smartphones. Meaning that it could still be awhile until they start paying attention to these weird little boxes that keep popping up everywhere.
Image: TechCrunch
Based in New York, Meghan Keane is US Editor of Econsultancy. You can follow her on Twitter: @keanesian.
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6:34AM on 17th March 2010
While I find the possible integration of QR codes in Facebook profiles an interesting concept I have concerns about how useful having your personal QR code might be. Let's not forget that the QR codes generated will use information put up on Facebook. Seeing how particular we all are about security settings on our FB profiles, having QR codes to display and distribute freely, kind of defeats the purpose as anyone with said QR code can gain access to your profile. I do, however, hope Facebook comes up with some sort of privacy setting for the QR codes too.
Digital Consultant at hugopickering.com
9:47AM on 17th March 2010
LSM - please remember that FB users can elect which bits of information they share and therefore showing a QR code is ultimately the same as a visit from an anonymous visitor, unless they are already a friend or a friend of a friend, in which case the user's privacy settings will determine what the visitor sees in the destination profile. QR Codes are actually a great way of creating a universal business card.
10:20AM on 17th March 2010
Like I said, Hugo, IF that is the case and privacy settings can be used to determine the amount of info linked to the QR code, it is an interesting concept indeed. But since nobody has been able to test the QR code generator yet, all we can do is speculate. Seeing that Facebook did leave everyone's profile open for viewing by default when they made their latest adjustment (?) to privacy settings of members, I'm going to not give them the benefit of doubt just yet.
I do agree on the business card bit though, in fact that is exactly what I had put down in my blog post.
1:00AM on 29th January 2011
I find it hysterical that anyone has taken this seriously. Does anyone know how many fake profiles are out there?
10:45AM on 3rd February 2011
Hello,
we believe that QR codes will make the connection between offline and online worlds easier. That's why we created our QR code generator with social features - YouScan.me. You can add all your info like Facebook profile or fan page, twitter, youtube, etc. and connect with others.
Cheers