Facebook Replaces 'Maybe' With 'Interested' On Events

Facebook has decided to completely replace the “Maybe” button on Events with an “Interested” button, according to a spokesperson in an interview with The Next Web. The “Interested” button option has been rolled out to every Facebook user and you will likely see it on public Event pages soon. However, private events still appear to have the “Maybe” button.

By selecting the “Interested” option, you are indicating to the Event organizer that you are interested but cannot decide yet. And if you press “Interested,” you will receive notifications and updates from the events. Selecting “Maybe” seemed ambiguous about whether you would actually show up to the event.

Changing the wording from “Maybe” to “Interested” may increase the likelihood that users will respond to invitations. And since more users are expected to respond to invitations, event promoters would be able to reach more users. Facebook has been testing the wording change since March 2013. 

Facebook Events work well for organizing get togethers, including birthday parties and baby showers. Earlier this year, Facebook started alerting users about nearby events and upcoming events. You can also subscribe to events so you will receive notifications when your favorite Pages host events near you.

Facebook Events product manager Aditya Koolwal recently told Mashable that some of the feedback received in regards to events is that users cannot invite all their friends because not all of them use the social network — especially in emerging markets. Eventually users will still be able to invite a friend by entering their email address. That person will receive an email which lets them RSVP without requiring a Facebook account. “You won’t have the full Facebook experience, but for me, that’s fine, because as the organizer of that event, it’s important to know that I can invite you,” said Koolwal in the interview.

The least popular feature added to Events this year was “read receipts.” The read receipts will allow hosts to see who received invitations and reviewed the updates posted to the Event page. The read receipts look similar to the ones used in the Facebook Messenger and Groups services 

Back in July, Facebook revealed that there are 450 million active users on Facebook Events. Eventually Facebook may launch a standalone Events app, but there are no plans to develop one as of right now.