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In July, Facebook revealed the “new Facebook.” Surprisingly, they made it optional. I tried it out, decided I didn’t like, and then went back to the old Facebook. According to Mashable, Facebook says only 40% of its users have even tried the new design, and some of those, like me, chose to go back to the old design after trying it. Facebook reported that “nearly 30 million” users had stuck with the new Facebook — but thats out of about 100 million total.
Now Facebook has decided that they are going to make the new design permanent. My Facebook was just forcibly switched today. It’s hard for me to pinpoint why I don’t like it. I miss the wall now that its integrated with everything else in the feed. It might just be general dislike of change. But my personal view of the new Facebook is not my point here.
I’m curious about their idea of a gradual changeover and whether its been a positive or negative influence over all. I suspect that by giving users the ability to stick to the old Facebook they increased their attachment to it. I wouldn’t have been that upset or surprised if Facebook has just suddenly shifted over in July. Now that I’ve decided to stick to the old design for so long, I’ve become even more against the new one. By giving users the choice and then taking it away they made a story of it — there are various groups against the new facebook and many users are petitioning them to change it. Of course, the same sort of hubbub was made about newsfeed, and now everyone seems okay with that, so I think this too will blow over. However, I think it would have been a better decision to just change all at once instead of pretending users had a choice in the matter. What do you think? Was the gradual change a good idea?
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That's am interesting question. I can definitely see your point and how allowing the choice for a time could very well be a factor here. Personally I think it's time to embrace a little change and realize that the new can be better than the old. Flexibility is a good thing.
I had a similar problem with the new facebook, which I chalked up to my dislike of change. And some of the new facebook's amenities are semi-good...like the fact that you can once again use the 'back' button to get back to your friends' list without being directed to the main facebook page.
But I don't like how you have to work harder to "stalk" people, since there's all those tabs on each person's profile.
They probably did make it more difficult of a transition by making it optional at first, but oh well. People will get used to it. I am.
The whole afraid of change thing? It's mostly bullshit. Many people just think the new layout, is ugly. Saying it's due to them being afraid of change, and to get used to it, is like saying Oh hey, I know this bathwater is boiling, but after a few minutes your nerves will stop reacting to it, you're just afraid of temperature change.
I deactivated simply because of it. I don't plan on coming back unless someone makes a greasemonkey script to redesign the UI, or they bring the old UI back. I'll probably be heading to something else as my alternate, though I have to check out some of the other networks to see if I like the look first. Oh hey guess what. I left facebook. Guess that's change huh?
well, I didn't really have any experience with the old Facebook, as I refused to sign up for a long time. That being said, the design is about being able to increase advertising and revenue, not appeal to the users. Face it, most people are going to complain, then move on and keep using it.
It's a free service. You get what you pay for.
I must have missed the memo. Optional changeover to the new design? I didn't even know it was available, but I welcome the changeover with open arms. While the new wall is much messier than in the past, I am thoroughly in love with the rest of the new compartmentalized layout. (I am a control freak. What else can I say?)
Should Facebook have required users to read a three-page long lawyer's talk before trying out the new layout, only to let them know that their "optional changeover" is a test release that will eventually be pushed throughout the entire Facebook platform? That may have been the correct thing to do, but it hardly seems sensible. Instead, the gradual changeover allows the developers to debug new features in small scales and avoid catastrophic problems if the changes are implemented all at once -- THAT would have cost Facebook many more users.
Like you, I decided to try the "new Facebook," then switched back because I didn't like it. Frankly, it seems nothing short of patronizing that they would give me the choice of switching back only to have me forcibly switch over. I mean, srsly, why give me the choice in the first place, then?
the old face book is better ok no comment
I am with you on this. I am just totally confused as to why they wanted it this way. My biggest gripe is the friggin apps being put on a tab called 'boxes'. honestly, "BOXES?"
One, I loved all my apps on the front page. I had splashcast there with a list of super cool videos for my niche. My rss feeds where right there, and my FriendFeed, in fact, anything that was flashy that told anyone exactly who I was and what I am about.
But two, what does this do to their advertising? Why would any third party application apply the resources now to an app for facebook, when they will just get relugated to a tab called "BOXES?"
Tragic. Honestly.
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?