Facebook Widgets Coming?

I just read over on Mashable that there is a pretty strong rumor about widgets coming to Facebook. This follows what I’d call a continued number of blows against MySpace. I blogged before about Facebook opening its API and how that is a hit to MySpace closing its virtual borders. MySpace has also been adding further border control, not allowing some 3rd party widgets on its space which opens up another great opportunity for Facebook to steal the social networking crowd. I think if Facebook does it right, widgets will be a great opportunity.

[Update] Just read over on Mashable that MySpace has at least opened its lines back up to Photobucket widgets. Will be interesting to see if MySpace decides to start allowing more widgets again.
What about the Facebook users?
But what about widgets on Facebook? As a college student, I’ve enjoyed Facebook quite a bit since I started using it in place of MySpace. One of the reasons was the slick design, what was at the time a lack of “stalkerish” features, its photo sharing tech, and the lack of spam. So while on the one hand having widgets on Facebook would be a blow to MySpace, would it be a bigger blow to its own users?

Designing it right
I think Facebook can do it, so long as they go about it right. There are a number of approaches they could take. Below is just an idea on how to allow widgets while still making it unobtrusive and keeping a slick design. If I get the time later, i’ll post some other ideas.

(An AJAXY Show/Hide widget approach)

When a user clicks the “Show YouTube Video” it will drop down the YouTube widget showing the NHL footage and “Show YouTube Video” will change to “Hide YouTube Video”. In this case, it keeps things slick and unobtrusive. At the same time, the “Show X” can be contextual based on the embed code.

Some other options would be to have it as a link under the users avatar, add it to the menu on the bottom before “Wall-To-Wall”, create it as a separate post unto itself where the avatar is the logo of whatever widget it is and is collapsed by default. I think the main thing is going to be allowing users to not have to see widgets if they don’t want to. Collapsed, invisible, etc. by default.