Facebook To Launch Work-Based Social Network Similar To LinkedIn

Facebook is working on a new career social network - to rival LinkedIn, that would allow users to keep their personal profile separate from their professional account, The Independent reports. The website, with the iconic blue and white theme, could enable users to chat with colleagues, connect with work contacts and collaborate on documents as with Google Drive and Microsoft applications.

The company is said to be building the network in the hope that employers will allow "Facebook at Work" - as the project is currently called as many block or discourage workers from accessing the original site during business hours.

New users are also believed to potentially benefit from their clients and senior colleagues not being able to scroll through their non-professional information such as their opinionated status updates and personal photos.

“The new site will look very much like Facebook – with a newsfeed and groups – but will allow users to keep their personal profile with its holiday photos, political rants and silly videos separate from their work identity,” reported the Financial Times.

The service is believed to be made free-of-charge initially with advertising revenue funding the operation. The company was reported to be worth $200 billion in September, and is said to be now building the site in their London offices and trialling a pilot service with companies ahead of its launch in the near future.