Opinion - The updated website layout and design for the popular social networking site Facebook is causing quite the buzz across the Internet. In fact, people have never really been fond of changes to Facebook since the site first started. I personally was more comfortable within the exclusive confines of only college students, and as the site has grown you live, and you get used to the change.

Today marks the start of forcing the 100 million Facebook users to utilize the newly revamped website design, it doesn’t really matter whether you like it or not.

In the past, Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook was constantly issuing statements and apologies for the changes he made to the site. This time, it is forced, and he will answer no questions.

“New Facebook” as it is deemed on the website, was actually released about seven weeks ago, and users had the option of switching back and forth between the classic look, and the new design. The formats were interchangeable and could easily be moved between within seconds. I believe some of the changes could actually make some users stop using Facebook, and instead utilize other social networking sites like Myspace and Friendster.

The new design requires more navigation, and means that each user has more of a webpage or portal rather than a simple one page site where all of their information is contained. I, personally, am a big time Facebook stalker, and I’ll say this does make keeping up with my friends, exes, and family a little more difficult. Where I used to spend two minutes I’m now spending five trying to get basic information.

The changes remove applications from an individual’s front page, and organizes personal information differently, allowing you to find out, or view exactly what you wish by clicking on the corresponding tab.

In 2006, Facebook added “news-feeds”. At that point, I thought I was going to die - having my personal information, break ups, make ups, etc broadcast to all my friends was embarrassing. The response to that feeling was added privacy settings. It was a change I wasn’t fond of, but have now grown to love. I feel like I’m the first to know about new homes, new babies, new significant others, and what’s happening on Friday.

Facebook seems to have better prepared for change this go round, and the uproar is much lighter than it has been in the past. People have known since May that changes were coming, giving users mental time to prepare for the new usage structure.
 
The fact of the matter is Facebook is among the better social networking tools, and allows its users to keep in contact and stay updated on the lives of their friends and family without taking significant chunks of time out of their day.

hate the new layout

Sep 10, 2008 17:02     

I probably won't switch to myspace, but i'll be using facebook alot lesser now. i absolutely hate the new layout. adding newsfeed wasn't a big a change as this. everything is movedaround and info is harder to find. all my apps have disappeared. i don't see why they changed it. the best part of facebook was how simpe it was. everything was easy to find and see. now it's just compliated and crap. i've seen two groups asking to make the layout optional. both of which have over a million members. i left myspace because it was too complicated and too much spamming and hacking. facebook is now the same. where to go next...

Jonas report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -3

its better

Sep 10, 2008 19:56     

I switched to the new facebook as soon as it was available weeks ago. It gets rid of the forceful assault of those pointless and stupid applications and sorts them away. Jonas, your apps being all over profile was horrible. It took ages for profiles to load, and 99% of them nobody even looks at. Myspace is even worse for having crap assault you with the music players and flashyness. Ugh, why can't people accept a social site that is geared for adults (like the new facebook)? Everyone seems to prefer ones geared for adolescent girls with all these apps and pop songs blasting on them.

Sichas Ruin report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +6

@Ruin

Sep 10, 2008 20:35     

my page takes 1 second to load with about 6 apps. bumper sticker, tetris, etc. and my apps were all one the left bar, not crowding up my facebook. nice assumption though. oh and fb is geared towards adults. specifically college students though. if you like the new layout, good for you. you're in the extreme minority of people. I'll get used to it, but having a bunch of different tabs for what i could see instantly before is dumb.

Jonas report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -7

@Jonas

Sep 11, 2008 02:09     

What's dumb is users lack of trying to learn anything new. Like you for instance : if your apps are so important to you on your profile page - then put them back! Its customizable, you know. Simply add them to the left hand side, and WOW! they'll be right where they were before. All your complaining was for nothing when you could have spent 30 seconds learning that the apps could be put right back where you want them. And this was quoted during the forced changeover : "Facebook said about 40 million users have already tried out the new design and about 30 million embraced it without reverting to the old look." Who's in the extreme minority?

Sichas Ruin report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

You're less right than you think

Sep 11, 2008 03:29     

@Sichas > "Facebook said about 40 million users have already tried out the new design and about 30 million embraced it without reverting to the old look." This doesn't really mean anything. Most people I know that use facebook haven't even notices that the layout changed. They don't even realize there is such a thing as a layout. They just accept the pages they see in front of them and start clicking without complaining until they get where they want to be. So facebook has made lives more difficult, but most people don't even realize this. > "All your complaining was for nothing when you could have spent 30 seconds learning that the apps could be put right back where you want them." I really really hate it when people have to adapt to the machine instead of vice-versa. Why should he re-learn and re-position things, he was happy with the way it was ( and so was I ). Facebook has imposed a revolution instead of an evolution. Facebook is dead, this new thing is not facebook, although it is called the same.

KristofU report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -3

It used to be for college students

Sep 11, 2008 08:27     

but not anymore. Best to get over that old assumption.
Hax Or report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

More difficult?

Sep 11, 2008 09:53     

KrisofU: "So facebook has made lives more difficult, but most people don't even realize this. " If a tree falls in the forrest, does it make a sound? If you don't realize something is more difficult then it probably isn't any more difficult.
Greg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@KristofU

Sep 11, 2008 10:41     

Buddy, none of what you wrote makes any sense. As Greg pointed out above, the flawed logic in your difficulty rant. And your statement before that, if you think the majority of users are so dumb and oblivious that the layout was even changed (or that anyone even knows what a layout is), then you have a very low opinion of your average people using a PC. "I really really hate it when people have to adapt to the machine instead of vice-versa." Well, I hate it when people complain incessantly about any new technology or software change that comes around, because they are so set in their ways that they can't learn to adapt, or be open to new things. If it were up to you people, we'd have stalled the technology growth 10 years ago.

Sichas Ruin report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@ruin

Sep 11, 2008 11:58     

it looks like you're just giving negatives to those that prefer the old look. one complaint about the new facebook is that you can't reposition apps. it takes much longer to move things. and yes,30%(30mill/100mill) of people liking it is a minority. btw you don't have to get hostile because i disagree with you. even krist believes i was fine the way it was before. the home page on the new layout i really like because it actually does make things easier. but your actual profile page is ugly, complicated, and messy. and is not just about apps. its about ease of use. and you failed to espond about how it takes five times longer to open the profile page than i did before. or the fact that there's moe space on the actual page thats not stretched to the entire screen.

Jonas report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2

Restricting my use

Sep 15, 2008 22:10     

I am strictly using this to keep in touch with friends and relatives. Do not care of any other applications or features.
neo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0