Figure 1: Facebook group in protest of new layoutThe Facebook group shown in the picture above was formed to protest the Facebook revamp that took place on 13 March 2009.
According to Facebook vice president of marketing Chamath Palihapitiya (Australian IT 2008), "The new design lets Facebook members use tabs to give priority to fresh pictures, messages, or "feeds" on main profile pages and compartmentalise mini-applications and "static" information such as curriculum vitae. The changes are motivated by feedback from users as well as a trend toward people flooding the internet with videos, pictures, and musings they want to instantly share."
Unfortunately, what Facebook failed to realize was that many users in its growing user base are not young and tech-savvy--there was a 276% growth among those aged 35-54 years (Corbett 2009), and hence the Twitter-like revamp threw many out of their comfort zones.
Unfortunately, what Facebook failed to realize was that many users in its growing user base are not young and tech-savvy--there was a 276% growth among those aged 35-54 years (Corbett 2009), and hence the Twitter-like revamp threw many out of their comfort zones.
The Facebook Layout vote application had over a million votes, with 94% of users against the new format (Obasanjo 2009).
(Image Credit: Jennifer Guevin/CNET)
This demonstrates that user acceptance is a major issue in any application as users interact with the design and layout. According to Obasanjo (2009), 'when your application becomes an integral part of your customers lives and identities, it is almost expected that they protest any major changes to the user experience'. But will users eventually get used to the new changes, or should negative reactions towards change be taken seriously by the Facebook designers?
When Facebook first launched its Newsfeed feature back in 2006, 500 Facebook groups were formed in protest as it disrupted users' sense of control over information posted online (Aslani 2006). However, after a few teaks in privacy control, today the newsfeed has become very central to facebook.
Will the same thing happen this time? Only time will tell whether Facebook can successfully appease its users again.
References:
1. Aslani, L, 2006, ‘Users Revel Against Facebook Feature’, The Michigan Daily, viewed 25 May 2009, <http://www.michigandaily.com/content/users-rebel-against-facebook-feature>.
2. Australian IT 2008, 'Facebook makeover leaves some devotees fuming', Australian IT, viewed 3 June 2009, <http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24328928-15318,00.html>.
3. Corbett, P 2009, '2009 Facebook Demographics and Statistics Report: 276% Growth in 35-54 Year Old Users', istrategylabs, viewed 3 June 2009, <http://www.istrategylabs.com/2009-facebook-demographics-and-statistics-report-276-growth-in-35-54-year-old-users/>.
4. McCarthy, C 2009, 'Facebook, Google, and the data design disaster', CNet, viewed 1 June 2009, <http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10206053-36.html>.
5. Obasanjo, D 2009, 'Facebook "stream" redesign: Disruptive companies don't listen to their customers – Mark Zuckerburg', viewed 4 June 2009, <http://www.25hoursaday.com/weblog/2009/03/21/FacebookStreamRedesignDisruptiveCompaniesDontListenToTheirCustomersMarkZuckerburg.aspx>.
No comments:
Post a Comment