Is Facebook Losing Face?
Without any question, my preferred social media outlet is Twitter, followed up closely by FriendFeed. And no, not really too into MySpace these days as it is just not reaching me as a user, despite tremendous success with other folks out there.
Then we have Facebook. When it first came out, I thought it was pretty cool. And then like many people, began to find it turning into a bit of a hassle with its ever-changing privacy policy, ridiculous “apps” overtaking the existing useful ones (stop poking me already!) and now, one of the most confusing UIs I have seen in a very long time.
I found that this article does a pretty sweet job at pointing out just how out of touch with reality the Facebook crew is becoming… at least at the top, anyway. While the idea of embracing “disruptive” technology is always something to be considered, embracing an annoying UI is not really the same thing.
With so much of Facebook’s focus being its attempt to suction off some Twitter users back to its side of the fence is not going to work if all it can come up with now is copying the simplicity of Twitter, yet opting to retain all of the extras that make Facebook, Facebook.
But maybe I am wrong? After all, I do not spend my day adding “friends” like many of these “social media experts” in some random hope of getting the most attention. No, I see Twitter as more of a scalpel like tool that does require me to “follow” thousands of people or have them follow me to gain the kind of interpersonal connections that I am seeking. And thankfully, Twitter provides an environment that does not “suggest” people that I might not really wish to add.
If I want features like “People I might know” taking up screen space, I would spend more time on MySpace. But that is just my feeling on the matter… what is yours? Is Facebook on the right track here?
10 Comments
bradleybradwell
March 23rd, 2009
at 10:21pm
I don’t think it’s the fact that Facebook is out of touch with their users. I think it’s the idea of change. People for some reason, although it may be human nature, tend to hate change. Especially within technology.
I remember when the new Wordpress came out a few months back us bloggers weren’t the happiest of folks. However, we eventually adjusted and started to appreciate what the new layout had to offer. I think the same thing will happen to Facebook.
People will eventually learn to like it.
Geek Meets Paranormal Meets Musician | Chris Pirillo
March 24th, 2009
at 2:40am
[...] Is Facebook losing face? [...]
Kiffin Gish
March 24th, 2009
at 2:40am
I agree that Facebook is not as fun as it used to be. In the never-ending pursuit to be better and better it has become too complicated and bloated as far as I am concerned.
CCorsair
March 24th, 2009
at 2:51am
I was Kicked off after being there for a year under my nick/handle of CCorsair which most all my friend know me under more than my real name and they want my real name and reason for my account? ah isn’t to have a place for those who know me find me? like whats is it I have to give my real name to network? I told them as part of my security for my self and work i don’t give out my full info . and the can stuff their site if they don’t like it .
CC
Cyber Consultant at large
Neiodavince
March 24th, 2009
at 7:12am
Simplicity is The Mantra for any app or Gadget. It helps to access the Data in form which is less complicated and more Usable. If we compare MySpace & Facebook Social Apps Facebook is less comlicated more user frindly than MySpace Junky Interface.
But the New Facebook facing away from that simplicity, as its trying to get in to the Tweeter interface. The best part of tweeter its simplicity. As its growth rate 1300%. Thats says quite a lot fo things. is facebook really wants to adapt Tweeter Interface it should remove everything and just give simple text box for messages. Thats not Facebook Model. so it should stay away from such inteface and Start innovate in a New way. It can even focus more in iPhone 3.0 interface and other Mobile space Markets.
Neio
Lizzy
March 24th, 2009
at 8:16am
FB tried to fix something that wasn’t broke, and failed miserably.
Mary Rose
March 24th, 2009
at 10:49am
While a fairly new user of Facebook, I like the informality of it and ability to connect with people i would not otherwise have contact with, but now am becoming friends with.
I am currently launching a website: Future Dawning.org which will use 12 of NING’s websites to create a virtual Learning Center and Think Tank to enable and facilitate the necessary social transformation we are undergoing at this time. One that involves taking the human family into another level of consciousness aimed at achieving world peace based in the use of sustainable living practices.
And I need people interested in joining with Future Dawning. to accomplish this task. So, am utilizing Facebook to connect with the people who i know to be “going my way” but with whom i had no previous personal contact, and without Facebook it would have taken me years to connect with them.
Then, after getting to know them, and going through a private and unobserved screening process, i am inviting those i choose to join me on Future Dawning.org. With its 175 million members Facebook is certainly a viral place in which to get to know people well and then select carefully those with whom one wants to associate.
And while NING refers to itself as a social networking platform, i am finding it a wonderful platform to use to set up a virtual learning campus.
To sum this up, my feelings are that different platforms will suit different users needs. Initially I tried PLAXO, but found the people there for the most part to be more focused on business than on living an authentic and ecologically-sensitive lifestyle — which is what i am looking for.
with love and appreciation to all for setting up this forum
mary rose
David Brown
March 24th, 2009
at 3:23pm
There is a facebook app to vote on whether you like the new UI. Out of almost 300,000 votes only 10% liked it.
Nick T
March 24th, 2009
at 5:10pm
Thats cute CCorsair. Facebook is recognizing the point for useful data, connecting people together. You dont post your real information because your real friends know your fake information? I bet your real friends know your real information, and thats the point of facebook, to connect real people with real data. You can go back to emailing your real friends if you are afraid of other real people…
I agree with the idea that people will learn to love the new facebook face.. Everyone hated it when it changed to whats now called the “old” face book home, but look what they learned to love…
Steve
March 25th, 2009
at 12:18am
My impression is that they are trying too hard.
I agree that all the “friends you may know” and all the little extra and invites are actually annoying and gimmicky. If the majority of Facebookers like that then I am in the wrong place, because it really grates me to be invited to take some silly “pop quiz”, or “which rock band are you?” for goodness sake.
Or maybe I am getting too old for such time wasting?
They really ought to keep it simple and not change for change’s sake – or maybe they were just a bit bored, but that is the nature of the beast I suppose.