Facebook is set to begin showing advertisements to users on mobile devices within weeks in an effort to tap a new source of revenues before it goes public.
Several people familiar with Facebook’s planning say that it has already discussed proposals with advertising agencies for displaying what it calls featured stories in the news feed seen by users on the site with a launch likely in early March ahead of its initial public offering which is expected in May.
The move will test Facebook’s ability to balance shareholders’ interests, in maintaining rapid revenue growth, with those of its users, who may be unwilling to accept too many commercial messages on the small screen of their most intimate device.