image source: WebProNews

BY EVAN THOMAS

ANCHOR NATHAN BYRNE

Do you go to Google to stay in the know, or do you let your Facebook friends help you out? Navigating the latter might get easier soon, thanks to a rumored search engine overhaul.

Bloomberg cites sources close to Facebook’s operations , who say the social network is looking to beef up its own search capabilities. The sources say Facebook has a team of engineers, headed up by ex-Googler Lars Rasmussen, working on an overhaul that will make it easier for users to filter Facebook’s firehose of user-generated information.

“There’s a lot of great material that’s being — videos and news articles and other kind of multimedia materials from all around the web that your friends are uploading to Facebook…. What if you could search that material? Currently you can’t do that with Google."

But CNET says Google shouldn’t worry about the new player. Facebook is in no position to unseat the current king.

“Certainly, Facebook is no threat to Google's 67 percent search dominance; Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL, Ask, and even Amazon field more search queries than Facebook.”

Search Engine Land says this overhaul will be focused more internally . It will mean more utility for users and a nice new revenue stream for the company.

“It would encourage more search activity among users, who would be rewarded with a better experience, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. It would also create a PPC ad opportunity that is probably too lucrative for Facebook to ignore.”

PC Magazine says the making money part is going to be increasingly important as Facebook approaches its IPO .

“This is a huge opportunity for the social network, especially as it prepares to go public and faces pressure from shareholders to maximize its options for monetization.”

That IPO is expected in May. Facebook isn’t commenting on the search rumors in the meantime.