Which Facebook service launched in 2016 to let users buy and sell items with people nearby?

Facebook Marketplace launched in 2016 as a place for users to buy and sell items locally.

The service began as a destination where people could browse listings posted by other Facebook users. Listings could include furniture, electronics, clothing, vehicles, and homes for rent. Buyers and sellers generally communicate through Facebook’s messaging tools, while the transaction itself may happen outside Facebook.

Marketplace was built around activity that was already occurring in Facebook groups. Many communities had buy-and-sell groups, so the dedicated service gave local commerce a more prominent and searchable home. It did not begin as a conventional online store operated by Facebook.

A common mix-up is Facebook Shops, which focuses on businesses displaying products online. Marketplace is primarily associated with person-to-person and local listings, although businesses can also use it in some markets. The service’s launch year was 2016, several years before Meta expanded its broader commerce tools.