Meta Leans on AI to Revive Marketplace’s Appeal Among Young Adults
The Facebook parent company is also testing AI-assisted chat between buyers and sellers.
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Meta is attempting to refresh Facebook Marketplace through AI-driven tools and social shopping features designed to woo younger users — especially those browsing for vehicles, as cars remain one of the most-searched categories among young adults in the United States. The updates aim to assist with informed purchase decisions on the platform.
People browsing vehicle listings will now see AI-generated summaries detailing engine specifications, safety ratings, transmission type, seating capacity, cargo space, pricing comparisons, and user reviews. This will allow them to skip clicking through multiple pages to obtain the information.
The Facebook parent company is also testing AI-assisted chat between buyers and sellers. When a buyer opens a chat with a seller, they may see “suggested questions to ask,” based on the listing.
Meta says the goal is to reduce friction.
Beyond that, the Marketplace also wants to be more social. Users can create Pinterest-moodboard-styled “collections” of listings and invite friends to contribute. Buyers can also pull their Facebook friends directly into conversations with sellers to coordinate pickup, discuss pricing, or gather second opinions.
Marketplace listings themselves are getting more interactive, with support for comments and reactions.
The rollout comes as voices globally warn of an alarming rise in AI-enabled online fraud. Not only is the new AI tool supercharging long-lasting, tailor-made, and sophisticated scams, but it is also complicating efforts to detect and prevent digital fraud.
All of the updates are part of Meta’s years-long mission to make Facebook cool for “young adults.” While the company wants to ease user experience on Marketplace, it also lands at a moment when consumers may face heightened risks across the broader online ecosystem.
