Facebook Changes

Facebook has changed yet again. The last time they changed it, there was uproar. Groups about the slightly changed layout appeared from nowhere and millions of members joined the groups, over a slight change that nobody really cared about. It was a slight change, people got over it relatively quickly.

This time, it's gone on to the next step. The changes have been compared to that of Facebook's latest rival, Twitter - and rightly so. The redesign focusses more on status updates and latest activities by users, much like Twitter. Now, whenever you update something it appears as a mini post on your wall, your news feed and your friends news feeds. It gets annoying and it's definitely not unique in any way.

The changes have caused such an uproar that it has made it onto the news. BBC Radio 1's newsbeat has a report, an extract of which is below:

More than a million people have now voted against changes to the social networking site Facebook.

The new look site puts more focus on status updates and has been likened to one of its rivals Twitter.

Users have voted overwhelmingly against the new format in an online poll on the site with 94% disliking the changes.

Twitter usage has grown 1,689% in the last year but is dwarfed by Facebook which has more than 175 million users compared to Twitter's 1.78m.

The forum over on BBC has had 300 comments added, the majority of which 100% against the new layout - although there are the occasional few who make stupid comments which aren't worth paying any attention to.

Complete Rubbish! I've stopped using it!

To me it seems the latest changes are to compete with Twitter.

Lee Eastwood, Brighton

There is little evidence on the new-look Facebook that any real usability testing was conducted prior to implementing the recent changes. It wasn't an especially intuitive site to use previously however it was passable. That certainly isn't the case now!

I believe Facebook have rather shot themselves in the foot with this style change. If it had been introduced with more care, and a communication to all members explaining the new features, then it might have gone down rather better!

[x333xxx], Steornabhagh, Eilean Leodhais, United Kingdom

PC World's blog has it down that over 1.7 million people have revolted against the redesign, and the numerous groups on the actual site aren't having any of it. Facebook has done something wrong, but they don't really care.

Clearly, nobody likes the new layout. Yet the staff haven't yet made any implications that they are going to change it back. Why should they? Millions of complaints, negative reports and general hatred towards the redesign don't appear to have ruffled any of the feathers of the Facebook staff, and I get the feeling that no matter how many millions complain, they simply won't change it back.

Off we go to Twitter, then.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the latest Facebook changes, leave me a comment. :)