After weeks of giving its users freedom, Facebook is finally forcing them to use its news page design
Facebook, currently the second largest social network, built itself into a multi-billion dollar business through a user friendly interface. However, with the addition of applications and many other new features, Facebook's engineers felt there needed to be an overhaul of the site.
In May it was announced that the layout would be changed. Along with an updated graphical user interface, the new version of the site would separate user information and pictures into a separate area of the site that made them easy to share. The changes were finally completed and unveiled in July.
Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, wary of a repeat of the advertising debacle in which Facebook accidentally revealed users private shopping habits via newsfeed, opted to try to give users a chance to familiarize themselves with the new system. Since July, users have had the option to use the "new look" or click a button to revert to the old look. Now, however, Facebook is forcing the revised page onto all its users whether they like it or not.
Mr. Zuckerberg acknowledges he is worried about the shift, stating, "Any change can be a big deal to our users because this is how they connect with their family and friends. So when you move things around, it can be perceived as being not a positive thing even when it's a positive change."
Some members are already mad about the changes. Numerous petitions have appeared protesting the shift on Facebook. The originator of one of these protests, Austin Peay University student Scott Sanders, describes his concerns stating, "It's not that we don't want change, period, it's that we don't like these particular changes. You have to navigate more and you have to click more to get to personal profiles. It's too much effort to get to basic information."
One major concern of users is that the new look shuffles items on page, creating noticeably more white space. Mr. Zuckerberg promised users he's not going to add more advertising to their pages, but some users aren't convinced.
Still, even some of the most vocal critics will stick with Facebook, even if they oppose the shift. Mr. Sanders states, "I definitely won't stop using Facebook because it's still the best social network out there. People will probably protest the changes in the beginning, but then they will just get used to them."
"People Don't Respect Confidentiality in This Industry" -- Sony Computer Entertainment of America President and CEO Jack Tretton
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