Facebook Completely Removing Network Pages

Facebook has put an alert up on the site’s network pages, alerting users that the network pages will no longer exists and suggesting that they go use groups instead. No word on why Facebook has decided to do this but back in April, Facebook completely killed network tab from within their navigation. A quick look at a geographic network page reveals that a large portion of the posts appear to be spam.

This move also emphasizes Facebook’s desire to focus on connecting people that already have a real-life connection rather than having people meet through the site. Unfortunately I don’t have any statistics on network page usage but I can guarantee you that traffic dropped substantially following their removal from the navigation. The removal of network pages also emphasizes how Facebook is looking to avoid duplication of content.

Will you miss the network pages? Did you ever use them? What impact do you think the removal will have on the overall experience on Facebook?

Networks Pages Screenshot

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121043 Comments2008-05-09+17%3A13%3A37Nick+O%27Neill »

I think this is a mistake. Meeting new people is one of the best things about a social network. I already have multiple ways to keep in touch with people I already know.This has always been a weak point with facebook, even with network pages. Look for more success from dating/meet people types of apps after this.Facebook groups are a mess. It's impossible to browse and search groups. I don't see them as replacing network pages.

Comment by Tom — May 9, 2008 @ 8:33 am
One reason might be that "Networks" and "Groups" are enough confusing…

Comment by 113.com — May 9, 2008 @ 9:30 am
I think this is a mistake. Meeting new people is one of the best things about a social network. I already have multiple ways to keep in touch with people I already know.

This has always been a weak point with facebook, even with network pages. Look for more success from dating/meet people types of apps after this.

Facebook groups are a mess. It's impossible to browse and search groups. I don't see them as replacing network pages.

Comment by Tom — May 9, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Facebook groups – what a joke. Are they going to add a new group of groups (Locations) – doubt it! Whats next to go Facebook Pages (as that can be covered in a lame group as well. Networks -> Pages is abit more better but being fan of a city or region is lame and pages have alot less communication as Pages suit businesses and bands. I love Facebook to Explain how are we going to find our local group if i were to try and find a group i be lucky to find it and also why take this stupid action.

is facebook trying its best to get rid of there SOCIAL NETWORKING tag and just be OWN NETWORKING

A Stupid mistake – the idiot at Facebook who thought of this needs unemployment.

also we not aloud a simple counter (one that loads on every page refresh automatically) Facebook calls out 'Privacy' and thanks for ruining aCounter and Profile Counter application (with there zero tolerance) and now they replaced with lame replacements).

* I hope this comment does not get filtered as Facebook should get to hear what i think

Comment by Nigel (FB not got co — May 9, 2008 @ 9:55 am
I'm glad they removed them; I never used them. When I did go to them, they were just filled up with spam. So I think they were pointless.

Comment by Bryan — May 9, 2008 @ 10:49 am
Yeah, for students it was kind of a joke. High School and University Network Pages were filled with slander and people trying to sell their useless junk. I don't think I used them once.

Comment by Ian — May 9, 2008 @ 11:36 am
One reason might be that “Networks” and “Groups” are enough confusing…

Comment by 113.com — May 9, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
It was a great way to do some intel on people… Find if they are still employed in a company etc’..

Comment by dan — May 9, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
It was a great way to do some intel on people… Find if they are still employed in a company etc’..

Comment by dan — May 9, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
ugh.. next step= fb is going to eliminate networks? :s

Comment by me — May 9, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
I’m glad they removed them; I never used them. When I did go to them, they were just filled up with spam. So I think they were pointless.

Comment by Bryan — May 9, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
Yeah, for students it was kind of a joke. High School and University Network Pages were filled with slander and people trying to sell their useless junk. I don’t think I used them once.

Comment by Ian — May 9, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
Are they just going to remove the network "pages"? or remove the whole concept of "networks"??

Comment by Xterminator — May 9, 2008 @ 9:38 pm
I'm a member of the network of my entire country (Finland), and I've been checking the network page every now and then, to get an estimate of how many Finns there are in Facebook.That's pretty much the only interesting data I ever found there. Most of the rest seemed just spam to me. I'll be missing the member count, though. How will I now be able to convince my luddite friends that it makes sense to join Facebook because so many of us are already there?

Comment by Maria Haanpaa — May 10, 2008 @ 1:30 am
Are they just going to remove the network “pages”? or remove the whole concept of “networks”??

Comment by Xterminator — May 10, 2008 @ 1:38 am
I'm a member of the network of my entire country (Finland), and I've been checking the network page every now and then, to get an estimate of how many Finns there are in Facebook.

That's pretty much the only interesting data I ever found there. Most of the rest seemed just spam to me. I'll be missing the member count, though. How will I now be able to convince my luddite friends that it makes sense to join Facebook because so many of us are already there?

Comment by Maria Haanpaa — May 10, 2008 @ 2:30 am
If people were more active on the networks then there would be less spammers on the network page. I use the networks WAY more than I use groups. Sure I'm invited to groups, but that doesn't mean I use them. I thought Networks were a neat tool because I'm going to school across the country. I joined a club with people from my school and another school. Because of the networks feature I learned where they went to school when I thought they went to the other. I don't know.. Ijust feel that the networks were interesting and they could've stayed. The thing with networks is that they could be deleted and added to a site once every couple months or so… with groups I don't think there's a limit.I find that all of the groups I've joined and invited to were more spammed than the networks. I kind of understand that facebook wants it to be so we're just staying connected to people we already know, but what if that's only through the network? I don't know about everyone, but I forget about groups really easily so I don't think I'd join a group. Plus it's inconvenient with all of the clicking.Oh and networks were a good way for people to inform each other especially with like the university network pages. I actually learned some stuff about campus events and whatnot. I guess it's just too hard to monitor all of the networks out there to prevent the spam and junk stuff from appearing.bahh…whatever. This is pretty much new news to me….

Comment by Aj — May 10, 2008 @ 3:30 am
If people were more active on the networks then there would be less spammers on the network page. I use the networks WAY more than I use groups. Sure I'm invited to groups, but that doesn't mean I use them. I thought Networks were a neat tool because I'm going to school across the country. I joined a club with people from my school and another school. Because of the networks feature I learned where they went to school when I thought they went to the other. I don't know.. Ijust feel that the networks were interesting and they could've stayed. The thing with networks is that they could be deleted and added to a site once every couple months or so… with groups I don't think there's a limit.

I find that all of the groups I've joined and invited to were more spammed than the networks. I kind of understand that facebook wants it to be so we're just staying connected to people we already know, but what if that's only through the network? I don't know about everyone, but I forget about groups really easily so I don't think I'd join a group. Plus it's inconvenient with all of the clicking.

Oh and networks were a good way for people to inform each other especially with like the university network pages. I actually learned some stuff about campus events and whatnot. I guess it's just too hard to monitor all of the networks out there to prevent the spam and junk stuff from appearing.

bahh…whatever. This is pretty much new news to me….

Comment by Aj — May 10, 2008 @ 4:30 am
Are the networks themselves still going to exist?

Comment by Felipe — May 10, 2008 @ 9:05 am
I think it's a shame, and have created a FB group against this decision, for these reasons:

- There can be a million groups about the same topic.

- Without network affiliation, it will be impossible to filter people into a group.

- Networks are easier to browse and access: people who belong to many groups, like I do, won't be able to access the pages as easily as it is with a Network tab.

- Networks allow people to search for peers with similar interests, depending on certain criterias. In groups, that's impossible.

- Networks have the important advantage of being linked to privacy settings to allow or disallow access our profile information. That's impossible in groups.

- Groups will be harder to monitor & control.

- When using the general Facebook search for a contact (particularly if it's someone with a common name), it will make it much harder to narrow down the searches than if that person belongs to a network.

My FB group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16497092026

Comment by Anne — May 10, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
Are the networks themselves still going to exist?

Comment by Felipe — May 10, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
Sadly a lot of networks are all but spam troughs. That and the fact that not many people actually used the network pages.In fact, any of my friends didn't even know it existed, so while there are the few who do actively participate, they have to suffer spam en masse and administrators too swamped to deal with the constant fake facebook accounts made to spam.In my opinion, a wise choise.

Comment by Harith — May 11, 2008 @ 6:57 am
Sadly a lot of networks are all but spam troughs. That and the fact that not many people actually used the network pages.

In fact, any of my friends didn't even know it existed, so while there are the few who do actively participate, they have to suffer spam en masse and administrators too swamped to deal with the constant fake facebook accounts made to spam.

In my opinion, a wise choise.

Comment by Harith — May 11, 2008 @ 7:57 am
When they had Facebook App Garage here in DC, I was talking to a FB guy and he said not many actually used the network pages at all.This is a BIG win for Ning. The network page in FB was the location which aggregated all the information about what's going on in a certain network. Now Ning is the only one that does that for a more niche network.

Comment by Justin Thorp — May 11, 2008 @ 10:02 am
When they had Facebook App Garage here in DC, I was talking to a FB guy and he said not many actually used the network pages at all.

This is a BIG win for Ning. The network page in FB was the location which aggregated all the information about what's going on in a certain network. Now Ning is the only one that does that for a more niche network.

Comment by Justin Thorp — May 11, 2008 @ 11:02 am
i'm pissed that they're removing network pages.i found my roommates through the network page of my new school.in my network, lots of people use the network page to get/give helpful advice.some advice to facebook: don't become myspace.

Comment by stephanie — May 12, 2008 @ 1:09 am
i'm pissed that they're removing network pages.

i found my roommates through the network page of my new school.

in my network, lots of people use the network page to get/give helpful advice.

some advice to facebook: don't become myspace.

Comment by stephanie — May 12, 2008 @ 2:09 am
I live on an island that currently doesn't have a network – which is very frustrating as I am no longer at college.I was looking forward to getting a network set up so that we could have a page. I know hundreds of others that have requested a network be set up, and still nothing has been done.I have watched various interviews with Mark Zuckerberg and he has hinted that networks will be changing, the impression I got was that networks may be set up/configured by users. I wonder if this is a step in that direction.If custom networks are on their way, it may be too complicated to have a network page for each.Whatever happens, I just hope we get our network at some point. I first requested it over a year ago.

Comment by Jersi — May 12, 2008 @ 4:40 am
I dont regularly look at network pages, but sometimes it is kind of cool to see how many people are in various networks. What I o miss is facebook Pulse…the page that used to show overall data for all users in a network and their favorite things in their profiles.

Comment by Andrew C — May 12, 2008 @ 5:24 am
I live on an island that currently doesn't have a network – which is very frustrating as I am no longer at college.

I was looking forward to getting a network set up so that we could have a page. I know hundreds of others that have requested a network be set up, and still nothing has been done.

I have watched various interviews with Mark Zuckerberg and he has hinted that networks will be changing, the impression I got was that networks may be set up/configured by users. I wonder if this is a step in that direction.

If custom networks are on their way, it may be too complicated to have a network page for each.

Whatever happens, I just hope we get our network at some point. I first requested it over a year ago.

Comment by Jersi — May 12, 2008 @ 5:40 am
I dont regularly look at network pages, but sometimes it is kind of cool to see how many people are in various networks.

What I o miss is facebook Pulse…the page that used to show overall data for all users in a network and their favorite things in their profiles.

Comment by Andrew C — May 12, 2008 @ 6:24 am
This is a big problem since networks allow people to segment the groups they create geographically or by student network. Now for example, it will be impossible to create a cause in the Spain network and thus avoid it getting confused with similar causes created within the Colombia, Mexico, Argentina networks, all where Spanish is spoken.One example: Each country has its own tobacco laws. A group created in one country to lobby for changes to this law can not now be clearly differentiated from another group campaigning for different changes, in different circumstances, and on a different continent.It will be much harder for citizens to lobby governments credibly on any issue and Facebook will look more like any random chat room.

Comment by Adrian — May 12, 2008 @ 6:58 am
This is a big problem since networks allow people to segment the groups they create geographically or by student network. Now for example, it will be impossible to create a cause in the Spain network and thus avoid it getting confused with similar causes created within the Colombia, Mexico, Argentina networks, all where Spanish is spoken.

One example: Each country has its own tobacco laws. A group created in one country to lobby for changes to this law can not now be clearly differentiated from another group campaigning for different changes, in different circumstances, and on a different continent.

It will be much harder for citizens to lobby governments credibly on any issue and Facebook will look more like any random chat room.

Comment by Adrian — May 12, 2008 @ 7:58 am
Are networks pages going to just be gone or networks in general?

Comment by nora — May 12, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
"This is a big problem since networks allow people to segment the groups they create geographically or by student network. Now for example, it will be impossible to create a cause in the Spain network and thus avoid it getting confused with similar causes created within the Colombia, Mexico, Argentina networks"That argument makes no sense at all.Network PAGES are being removed; NETWORKS will still be there – Facebook would never remove its basic privacy protection.Groups can still be created for specific networks. In your example, someone in the Spain network can create a group for just the people in the Spain network. People can still search for groups by network, and browse the popular groups in their networks, so they will still be able to find the group.

Comment by Name — June 4, 2008 @ 6:04 am
“This is a big problem since networks allow people to segment the groups they create geographically or by student network. Now for example, it will be impossible to create a cause in the Spain network and thus avoid it getting confused with similar causes created within the Colombia, Mexico, Argentina networks”

That argument makes no sense at all.

Network PAGES are being removed; NETWORKS will still be there – Facebook would never remove its basic privacy protection.

Groups can still be created for specific networks. In your example, someone in the Spain network can create a group for just the people in the Spain network. People can still search for groups by network, and browse the popular groups in their networks, so they will still be able to find the group.

Comment by Name — June 4, 2008 @ 11:04 am
If one of the points of facebook was to meet new people in your area with similar interests…removing the network page kinda counteracts that, especially since some people have their profiles set to be viewed only by friends or people within that network. By removing the network page, now the only way to find and get an idea for people with this setting is to randomly add them as friends, because groups don't offer the same option. It sucks, because I met a lot of really cool people and decided not to add a lot of lame people due to a quick look at a profile. And even if removing the network page doesn't eliminate the ability to view someone's profile, it's harder to find these people now because it's not based out of a specific region. Soo this is kinda sh*tty in my opinion, but whatever. I'm drunk right now so I'm not sure this argument even makes sense, but I think it's okay. I just see facebook making some pretty stupid decisions in the future that might upset a lot of people and contradict the very reasons why the site was created. Once again, I am drunk though..

Comment by Hollly — June 26, 2008 @ 9:35 am
If one of the points of facebook was to meet new people in your area with similar interests…removing the network page kinda counteracts that, especially since some people have their profiles set to be viewed only by friends or people within that network. By removing the network page, now the only way to find and get an idea for people with this setting is to randomly add them as friends, because groups don’t offer the same option. It sucks, because I met a lot of really cool people and decided not to add a lot of lame people due to a quick look at a profile. And even if removing the network page doesn’t eliminate the ability to view someone’s profile, it’s harder to find these people now because it’s not based out of a specific region. Soo this is kinda sh*tty in my opinion, but whatever. I’m drunk right now so I’m not sure this argument even makes sense, but I think it’s okay. I just see facebook making some pretty stupid decisions in the future that might upset a lot of people and contradict the very reasons why the site was created. Once again, I am drunk though..

Comment by Hollly — June 26, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
listen up y'all!!networks are still going to be therethe network page is going to be removedthe network page serves no real purpose and is used by sleazy people and peadofiles to meet random people they dont even know off the internet.facebook are going to nip this in the bud before a child goes missing and gets raped up the butt after meeting some old man off the internet who they thought was going to be a teenagerfacebook isnt a dating site for the facially challenged and socially inept.its a place where you connect online with people who you already have a real-life connection with, ie at the very least a friend of a friend, if not friendsif you want to have 10'000 friends youve never met, go on myspace, thats what thats all aboutif your trawling the internet looking for sleazy shags, visit adultfriendfinder, your local nightclub, brothel, etc

Comment by jet thomas — August 11, 2008 @ 6:36 am
listen up y'all!!

networks are still going to be there

the network page is going to be removed

the network page serves no real purpose and is used by sleazy people and peadofiles to meet random people they dont even know off the internet.

facebook are going to nip this in the bud before a child goes missing and gets raped up the butt after meeting some old man off the internet who they thought was going to be a teenager

facebook isnt a dating site for the facially challenged and socially inept.

its a place where you connect online with people who you already have a real-life connection with, ie at the very least a friend of a friend, if not friends

if you want to have 10'000 friends youve never met, go on myspace, thats what thats all about

if your trawling the internet looking for sleazy shags, visit adultfriendfinder, your local nightclub, brothel, etc

Comment by jet thomas — August 11, 2008 @ 7:36 am
the networks page is now gone. good riddance to bad rubbish.

Comment by jet thomas — August 12, 2008 @ 1:26 am
the networks page is now gone. good riddance to bad rubbish.

Comment by jet thomas — August 12, 2008 @ 5:26 am
Now I am thinking that re-implementing the Network pages with some Twitter features and removing the Wall should have been the way to go.

Comment by Facebook User — March 10, 2009 @ 6:47 am