Google starts indexing Facebook comments

INTERNET SEARCH GIANT Google is now indexing public comments made on web sites that use Facebook and other add-ons.

According to the Telegraph, this means that all comments made on a web site that's publicly visible could show up in Google searches.

Search engines were previously unable to read comments, as Facebook, Disqus and Intense Debate used programming that was not easy to read automatically, so comments could not play any part in a web site's search ranking.

Google's web tools that it uses to trawl the web and index content are now able to read comments that have been made using Facebook's Connect add-in for other websites.

The update means links featured in comments will also enhance websites' standings. µ