Suffolk singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is reported to have become the first British personality invited to join a new “celebs-only” social media tool.

Facebook Mentions is marketed as a “new app for actors, athletes, musicians and other influencers to discover and join conversations”.

Currently available only for people with verified fan pages in the US, Mentions has so far been joined by such celebrities as Maria Carey, Kim Kardashian and Whoopi Goldberg.

Ed, a former student at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham, is reportedly the first Brit to receive an invite to join after his stateside credentials enjoyed a major boost.

Last month alone, his latest album X topped the US charts, he became the first British musician to feature on the front cover of Vibe magazine and he was credited in Time magazine as being in the “midst of a (British) assault on the stateside charts”.

Facebook said the new service “makes it easy for public figures to talk with their fans on the go” and allows celebrities to see what fans are saying about them or host live question and answer sessions with their followers.

Some of its exclusive users, however, have spoken out negatively about the app.

Star Trek actor William Shatner claimed it was “ill-conceived” and it inundated users with unwanted notifications. He said he would continue using the old version.

Ed is also reported to have been less than enthusiastic about the new facility. His spokesman told the Sunday Times: “He did not know this was such a bonkers system. He just wants to talk directly with his fans as he can on Twitter. We shall see if he keeps using it.”

Facebook said it planned to roll Mentions out across more countries “in the coming months”.

Meanwhile, at home in the UK, Ed’s latest album continues to reach new heights of success.

After the regular and deluxe editions of X rocketed into the top two chart positions last month, the album has gone on to enjoy five successive weeks at number one, making it the longest uninterrupted chart topper since Adele’s 21 in 2011.