More and more people are getting accustomed to the concept of buying and selling online as sites like eBay, Etsy and Poshmark continue to increase in popularity, especially within the last two decades.
Newer to the scene is Facebook Marketplace, which officially launched in 2016 as a shop-like branch or section of the popular social network.
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Facebook Marketplace allows users to buy, sell or trade with other people located in their general area. The platform is similar to sites such as Craigslist and Nextdoor.
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Just about anyone can use Facebook Marketplace, according to Facebook. Users have to be considered adults in their country and live somewhere the platform is available.
Because the site is so accessible, users are often meeting and interacting with strangers to complete transactions. Here are some safety tips from Meta, Facebook's parent company, to consider when using the platform to buy or sell in person.
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Facebook recommends not sharing personal information such as your address and exercising good judgment when communicating with the other person. For buyers, reviewing the seller's Marketplace profile can give them more information about their activity, other listings and ratings they may have received.
Be sure to create a plan for meeting the other person and share it with friends and family. According to Facebook, there is a "Send plan" option in Messenger that allows you to send your meeting plan to one of your friends, so they are aware of all the details of your meetup.
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Other safety recommendations include bringing a charged cell phone, having the number for local law enforcement on speed dial and not carrying large amounts of cash.
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It is better to meet in a public, well-lit area, according to Facebook. Recommended areas include a coffee shop or shopping mall.
Facebook also recommends using a live location-sharing app, such as Life360, to share your location with a family member or friend during your scheduled meetup time.
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If you feel unsafe during the meet-up, you can end the interaction and leave. Facebook encourages reporting anything in violation of the platform's community standards.
Try delivery
According to Facebook, some items on Marketplace are eligible for shipping. The seller can send the items directly to the buyer without ever having to come into contact with one another.
However, if an item isn't eligible for delivery, users can still opt for local transactions, keeping the platform's safety recommendations in mind.
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