Facebook launches GIF-supported polls
There is a new way to post statuses in the social media platform Facebook, which recently rolled out voting polls supported by GIF and photo.
With this new feature, users can now ask their friends' opinions on something as mundane as what they'd rather have for dinner — maybe a choice between pasta and chicken fillet — or something more relevant — like which is better, the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the DC Universe — with a visual supplement.
The poll can be supported by a GIF or a photo, depending on the user's preference, and will be available for use for both the web and mobile apps for IOS and Android.
This feature has been available on Twitter for quite some time now. But unlike its often four-option polls, the new Facebook voting platform is limited to only two choices.
Creating a poll is almost as simple as posting a normal status. Just click on "what's on your mind" and hit the button below that says "Poll." Type in the question in the text box. There is no limit to how long a question should be, but note that responses are limited to only 25 characters. The poll can stay open as long as the user wants — one day, one week, custom or even never.
A note to voters: voting is not anonymous. All responses will be recorded and displayed for the poll maker to see.
This move from Facebook comes a month after Instagram launched its polling stickers via the Stories.
This is not the first time Facebook introduced polling in its platform. Voting through the social media heavyweight has been experimented at for some time now. Way back in 2007, it was only available for advertisers and marketers, then it spread out to groups and events. They were also mostly text based. This is the first time that Facebook is rolling out the platform for the general public and with visual support to make it more interactive.
