New Facebook Despite Protests

September 11, 2008 By Digital Trends Staff

Facebook is changing the look of profile pages in spite of protest from users; like it or not, everyone will be on the new Facebook.

If you’re a Facebook user you’ll know that a few weeks ago the opening page and your profile suddenly looked different. The company was trumpeting the new Facebook – but there was also the option to go back to the older style. Say goodbye to that. Now everyone will be on the new Facebook, like it or not.

On the company blog Mark Slee wrote:

"We can’t maintain both versions, and we really think you’ll like the new Facebook once you get used to the changes."

So far, they claim, around 40 million have tried the new Facebook, and around 30 million have stuck with it. But among the 10 million who haven’t is student Scott Sanders, who started a group protesting against the change which has about a million members.

"I was contacted by one of the product managers at Facebook who explained in detail why they did some of the things they did. He kept telling me it was to make it ‘more user friendly.’” he told the BBC. "But they’re smart guys. Why couldn’t they figure out to make both designs compatible and let those that want to stay with the old design do that?"

Facebook insists their new look is simpler and offers faster navigation and offers improved integration of applications.

Showing 3 comments

Andrew at 4:59am 14th September 2008 The main problem I have with it is that it looks bare and unfinished. If it had a background, like the Facebook for iPhone app has, then it would look less bare. I've still not been turned over to the new Facebook yet, but am dreading it.

On why they can't keep both versions running, there is no reason why they can't - at best, it'll be a few CSS files that need keeping, which, let's be honest, take up less than 1mb each. What's 10mb to Facebook? Nothing. Consider that 8.6million photos are uploaded to Facebook every day, each of about 1mb, 10mb really is nothing to them.

What's change if change is unwanted?
Amy at 5:34pm 12th September 2008 "He kept telling me it was to make it 'more user friendly.â€™â€ he told the BBC. "But they're smart guys. Why couldn't they figure out to make both designs compatible and let those that want to stay with the old design do that?""

I agree completely! They're clearly smart enough to have designed the whole thing...yet they claim they can't maintain both versions?! Wow, what complete imbeciles. Nobody can see what they would lose if they'd provide both options, and nobody understands why they won't leave it alone period. It's a crummy, crummy "design" which looks like a child created it (no offense to children).
Kevin at 7:39am 11th September 2008 It is better, it is more user friendly, it is cleaner... it doesn't take long to figure it out. The people that are complaining represent a 1/4 of the facebook users... so, apparently the majority should adhere to the wants of the few? Sound like liberals to me.