Facebook Changes Default Icon for Users

Default Icon Screenshot

Remember that annoying question mark that would show up when somebody didn’t want to upload their picture? Well, worry no more because Facebook has now changed the default image for a user from a question mark to a more gentle silhouette. Now for those people that you may or may not know what they look like, you can at least know that they are in fact a human. Well, maybe not completely human because it appears that the new default icon does not have any ears.

So how will the person hear you? Fortunately you don’t have to worry about that because pictures cannot hear no matter what they look like. In my own opinion, I would imagine that the new default icon does not incentivize a person to switch their avatar too quickly. Previously, the bold question mark was so annoying that a user would immediately feel compelled to switch their image.

New Default Icon Screenshot 2Apparently it wasn’t too compelling though given the new shift. My guess is that after the designers completed their design of the new profile they got bored and decided to switch the default icon. Now millions of photoless users can now sleep soundly knowing that they too have at least a silhouette and not a question mark.

 



Recommended Articles


Announcing The AllFacebook Marketing Conference 2012

The AllFacebook Marketing Conference is coming back to San Francisco on June 28-29. We are proud to announce our second conference that offers a how-to guide for marketing to Facebook’s 800 million users. Special early pricing is available for only $199 until today, so register now. A full agenda will be announced soon. Keep an eye on our event site for more information

6 Comments »

  1. Great article, and thanks for keeping my attention.

    "Well, maybe not completely human because it appears that the new default icon does not have any ears."

    This made me laugh :)

    Comment by Trish — July 18, 2008 @ 9:32 am

  2. Great article, and thanks for keeping my attention.

    “Well, maybe not completely human because it appears that the new default icon does not have any ears.”

    This made me laugh :)

    Comment by Trish — July 18, 2008 @ 12:32 pm

  3. Icon has ears now – changed it again today…

    Comment by Erik Giberti — July 22, 2008 @ 11:27 am

  4. Icon has ears now – changed it again today…

    Comment by Erik Giberti — July 22, 2008 @ 2:27 pm

  5. It appears that the question mark is back as the default user icon.

    Comment by Josef Sachs — July 24, 2008 @ 2:47 am

  6. It appears that the question mark is back as the default user icon.

    Comment by Josef Sachs — July 24, 2008 @ 6:47 am

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

Send us a Tip

tips@allfacebook.com
[Inside Social Apps 2012]
[AllFacebook Stats: Facebook Analytics for Your Business]
[How can Facebook change your business?]

Upcoming Events

Inside Social Apps

February 8-9, 2012 | San Francisco

Inside Social Apps

Developing & monetizing on social & mobile platforms

Social Gaming Summit

23-24 May, 2012 | Berlin

Social Gaming Summit

Where Gaming Meets the Social Web

AllFacebook Marketing Conference

June 28-29, 2012 | San Francisco

AllFacebook Marketing Conference

Your how-to guide for Facebook marketing.