Facebook Changing Faces Again?

Let's talk about what's on every social media user's mind, feed, and status update: the new Facebook layout. Although I kinda like the new layout, (for reasons I'll go into in a sec) this bumper sticker seems to be the general opinion of the new homepage. I've yet to see anyone post anything even close to positive about the new layout. Most people are confused about the change, not understanding how to use familiar features and even more confused about why the layout of the homepage was changed again. When Facebook changed the format of the home page the first time, many people at first didn't prefer it, but understood how to use it and grew to accept it. This time around, people are threatening to just stop using fb if these constant unwanted changes are a sign of how the site's services will continue to pull the carpet out from under them. The new unwelcomed change adds to the negative snowball forming from a few months ago when Facebook suddenly changed it's terms of service, claiming all content posted on the site was theirs to use. This was revoked shortly after due to a storm of controversy.

Now for the part you're going to boo at. I like the new Facebook format, with some definite exceptions. The requests moving to the top of the page in more of a verbal list is kind of a messy pain, especially if you have several requests for different things. The new real time stream down the middle of the page is the real big change, along with the stream filters on the left. This, in my opinion and many other's, is trying to imitate Twitter. The live feed, above which is the "What's on your mind?" status update is definitely rooted in Twitter design. But I like Twitter. I agree that we don't need two social sites doing the same thing, but Facebook's filters make it a easier to narrow down the content you want to read, and the status updater has now been upgraded to the full publisher which was previously only on profile pages. This is the main improvement in my eyes. I typically post lots of pictures, links, etc for my friends to see, and the redesigned publisher on the main page definitely makes that a little easier. Facebook has always been about networking with people, as well as sharing content with friends, and I think the new stream and publisher allows for that. However, the "highlights" section is kind of similar to the feed, only it includes events you weren't invited to, or having anything to do with you directly. Makes the whole idea of a highlights side stream kinda questionable in it's usefulness.

But to say that the update has some improvements in a sea of discontented users isn't enough. If the users ultimately don't think it's easier, more integrated, and overall better, than it's not. I do take into account that people are usually going to complain and be reluctant to change at first, but this overwhelming consensous of disapproval says one thing: Facebook isn't listening to the users. While my humble preferences for the new format lay few and far between, I agree that Facebook needs to listen to it's users in regards what's easier and better.