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We hate change. Although I love the new Timeline, privacy advocates will hate it. Users who are less-than-techie will be scared of their Social Life's history laid out and naked for all to see. People will complain; they usually do. Eventually people will accept it.
Will Facebook’s new Timeline upset users like this week’s Newsfeed changes?
Home » Brainworm™, Facebook, Social Media, Trends » Will Facebook’s new Timeline upset users like this week’s Newsfeed changes?
Earlier this week, Facebook unveiled a revised Newsfeed infuriating hordes of faithful users. In typical Facebook fashion, the world’s largest social network made significant updates to the user experience without much warning.
We hate change.
With exception of the 2008 election, which successfully touted “Hope and Change,” there are few times in our society when change is actually embraced. We avoid it. We scream about it. We even rant our frustration in our status updates, so much that these digital bitch sessions actually received “Top Story” rankings—ironically one of the numerous featured “enhancements.”
However, even bigger changes are about to ensue. If you think people are upset now about Facebook’s new layout, wait until Timeline is released on September 30th.
Heralded as Facebook’s greatest enhancement since the Platform was introduced in 2007, Timeline makes significant strides—nay leaps—into realms where social has never before seen. But it seems a little creepy at first. Privacy advocates will certainly hate it.
During Mark Zuckerberg’s keynote speech at F8 yesterday, he described today’s profile showing only a glimpse of who we are. To get more information about a person, one must continually scroll down and expand information to back further in time. At most, Zuckerberg described it as a 15-minute snapshot of who we are.
The new Timeline profile is a jazzy approach to social profiles. Complete with beautiful photo and video capabilities, Timeline is easy on the eyes. Information is stored in two columns surrounding a “timeline.” Plus marks (+) in the timeline can expand information of interest going back historically to the time the user is born—in my case, 1967. All I need to do is upload a baby photo, and presto—Facebook shows my entire profile history, a social media archive of my digital self. Relevant information is grouped together. Older information can be easily accessed through shortcut links representing years past (i.e. 2010, 2009, 2008, etc.).
This type of complete history is a little creepy at first. Timeline creates a transparency like never before. Gone are the days of obscure AOL user name handles. The new Facebook lays us out, complete and naked—metaphorically speaking.
As a social media consultant with developer privileges, Facebook allowed me to change my profile in advance of the September 30th rollout. I must say that I truly like it. Not only will it be easier for people to learn about me, I can learn about them in jut a few moments.
But will people accept it? They will complain at first, but I think everyone will eventually love it.
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