Facebook iOS App Gets Post, Comment Editing

Facebook this week rolled out the ability to edit posts and comments from within its iOS app.

Available for iPhone only — sorry iPad and iPod touch users — the feature has already rolled out to the Web and Android devices.

But more than simply changing a few words or fixing a grammatical mistake, the update also allows you to view the edit history, perhaps to reminisce over what has changed since you first posted the message. Or to ensure that no one else has been fooling with your phone and your account, though the new "Edited" tag on any post will serve as a notice.

Facebook has taken another step toward privacy, with the new lock icon next to your name in the navigation menu. Click it to find privacy shortcuts to frequently asked questions and other settings.

All iDevice users can also take advantage of the newly added photo comments function, which initially rolled out online in July, providing users the option to reply to a status update with an image — your own, or, more likely, a popular Internet meme.

Similarly, Facebook now allows members to express themselves with icons when posting to someone's timeline — e.g. "Stephanie is feeling sick" or "Stephanie is listening to Dexter Gordon," the same way you can to accompany your own updates.

TechCrunch also pointed out that Facebook appears to have thrown Trending Topics into the mix, though my iOS 7 update doesn't seem to include what may be only a networking test. Those users who have received the feature, according to the tech blog, will find a list of 10 popular terms, each of which, when tapped, reveal a feed of posts that mention them.

The social network began sharing "what's hot" on the Internet in late August.

The updated Facebook app is currently available for free download in the Apple iTunes Store.