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Facebook reportedly working on standalone breaking-news app

Facebook is working on a Twitter-like breaking-news app, which would allow users to sign up for alerts from their preferred sources, reports on Tuesday claimed.

According to a Business Insider source, the standalone app will deliver alerts featuring a 100-character synopsis followed by a URL link to the full story.

Users will be able to choose which “stations” and “substations” from which they wish to receive alerts.

The app is reportedly in the alpha phase right now, with some of Facebook’s preferred news partners involved in the trials.

It will apparently involve content providers sending out a “blast” to followers that would appear in followers’ notifications, just as quickly as publications are able to send out a tweet.

Facebook has been making increasing overtures into the news industry in recent months and years.

It’s Trending News topics have become a popular feature on the site,
while Instant Articles brings the full text from news stories within the
source’s Facebook page.

SEE ALSO: Facebook says LOL is officially dead

Facebook hasn’t yet commented on the story, but the company has been pretty busy with the new apps in recent times.

Only last week it rolled out Facebook Live, a live video-streaming app for the company’s VIP users.

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