Millions of Users Dumbfounded by New Facebook Design

The backlash against Facebook has continued to spread ad Facebook rolls out the new site design. One group, “1,000,000 AGAINST THE NEW FACEBOOK LAYOUT!” has surged and will most likely surpass two million users later today. Another group, “Petition Against the ‘New Facebook’” has over 1.35 million members. It’s not just the group members that don’t like the new profile.

A number of people I’ve spoken to over the past week are extremely frustrated by the new design. There are even a few developers that have been negatively impacted by the new design with an enormous amount of traffic disappearing as a result. What exactly quantifies an “enormous” amount? Well some developers have seen traffic decrease by as much as 20 percent.

A number of other developers have seen a steady flow of traffic to their applications across the board. One ad network I spoke with hasn’t seen revenue impacted at all so it appears that some applications are suffering while others continue to experience significant growth. A very large portion of users I’ve spoken with don’t like the new Facebook design because the changes are so substantial.

Ultimately I suspect that the majority of the backlash will subside over the coming months but those users who are resistant to change will not like the upgrade. After a few months of user education, people will become used to the new design. While certain portions of the site will receive less traffic due to the new design (the “Boxes” tab on the profile page for example), the new design will soon become the standard, making it no longer “new”.

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164018 Comments2008-09-16+20%3A00%3A49Nick+O%27Neill »

Facebook is now The Official Internet Anti-Social Network!!!!!!!!

Comment by Lerepete — September 16, 2008 @ 11:51 am
I really don't see the big deal with the redesign. The large majority of people in the against groups haven't left one shred of constructive criticism. Saying "it sucks" or "it is myspace" doesn't help and changes nothing. Have you heard any "real" reasons people don't like the redesign?

Comment by Jeremy — September 16, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
I'll give you a plausible reason. It noticeably lags, and it's incredibly difficult to navigate. I can't find all the applications I once had on one page, now I have to click around and scroll around in 500 different tabs to find where they put it. I just think it's ridiculous that they forced this on us without asking everyone's feedback, and it's incredibly rude how they have not answered our concerns and complaints, but have simply said "this is the end-all, be-all of the Facebook setup. Put up with it, or go somewhere else." Which is NOT acceptable at all, because their fame and fortune is based off of their userbase, and when such a significant portion of their users are dissatisfied with their new product and their attitude, you know something's not right.

Comment by Meghann — September 16, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
What IS easy to find in the new Facebook profile is the Pay Per Click advertising. Funny that.

Comment by Stuey — September 16, 2008 @ 11:46 pm
This is NEW COKE of 2008. CAN IT!!!

Comment by sally — September 16, 2008 @ 10:55 pm
maybe we'll become used to it, as you say
but we still won't like it
the new facebook is :
*confusing
*disorganized
*slow
*not easily navigated -> multiple clicks to locate something that used to be right on the profile page
*not visually appealing
*users do not have the freedom to customize their pages like before
*the mini feed and the wall are now one feature. ANNOYING! the wall was the single best thing from facebook, and now its messed up with the WORST THING.
*despite the number of new users, i'm quite confident that, given an opportunity to use the OLD version, they would prefer it much much more over this new “improved” version.
*facebook doesn't care about its users enjoying the site anymore… they would rather make more money off of the extra ads, than have the same great format people knew and loved

Comment by katie — September 17, 2008 @ 12:42 am
Superbobbes, PLEASE!! The OLD was superfast in comparison. The new is a clogged mess. Everyone adopted The OLD because everything from design to function was superior and still is. The new is inferior, ruinous to work that's already been done by users and they… REMOVED THE APPLICATIONS!!!!!!!! That alone was the dumbest thing done by light years. One of the PRIME attractions to Facebook were the Applications, of course. It's not attractive anymore!! SAY NO TO CHANGE!! At least give us an option!! VOTE NO TO CHANGE!!!!!!!!

Comment by Lerepete — September 17, 2008 @ 4:20 am
@katie:
slow?? hahah good joke! slow was the old side with profiles full of applications. it took hours to load it.

@all:
you should try with it and dont always say its shit. you will get used to it. if you think why should i try then you are to lazy to learn new things!

Comment by superbobbes — September 17, 2008 @ 3:45 am
@Lerepetethey will change it. you cant roll back the decision. do you think they spent so much money and time on working with the new design to dont change it now! i dont think so. so get used to it you have no choice

Comment by superbobbes — September 17, 2008 @ 5:18 am
I like the new design. I don't have any problems with it. Facebook is a company that cannot afford to go back to the old profile, it has to go hand to hand with new tecnology.

Comment by IK — September 17, 2008 @ 6:01 am
It looks horrible & is so awkward to use!! I hate the new layout!!!!!!

Comment by BeyondRace — September 17, 2008 @ 11:28 am
@MeghannThey didn't "force" it upon you without asking for feedback. In fact, that is precisely why they have been allowing ALL users to beta test the new design for quite some time now — and they EXPECTED user feedback. I urge you to start playing an active role on websites that you enjoy and frequent, such as Facebook. If more users actually took the time and energy to partake in beta tests and provide constructive feedback, there would be a lot less outrage and confusion.As for my opinion on the re-design, I'm in favor of it. It's not without it's flaws, but those will be addressed in due time. I feel that the users "information" (favorites, activities, about me, etc) is now less relevant because it has been moved to it's own out of the way tab, so less people will be inclined to look at it — but that is not a fatal flaw, per se.Generally speaking, Facebook is all about feeds and networking, and I feel the new design re-enforces these concepts.

Comment by Spiralateral — September 17, 2008 @ 11:49 am
People need to seriously cool it. So much energy towards a Facebook design yet people cannot put that same energy into something far more important? There are definitely other issues to be looked at. The new change isn't even half bad!

Comment by Nick Stamoulis — September 17, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
This whole "I don't like the new design" is a load of rubbish.No, people don't actually know if they DON'T LIKE IT, they have just taken one look at it, thought "urg that's different and I don't know where things are", they therefore can't use the new facebook, because they haven't taken time to try – and sit their complaining about it.Instead of submitting constructive critisism, they just join pathetic groups like "Petition against the new facebook". People need to realise, it'll never go back to how it was. Facebook are moving with the times, staying modern in their programming as-well as their design. They aren't going to have come all this way forward to turn around now and say "Meh, let's just go back to the old version. Users are crying".I like the fact that they are trying to categorise things, with tabs like 'Boxes' – it means I don't have to go onto my friends profile, who may be an application nutter – to have to wait for the page to load for a few minutes, then scroll for a few minute just to write "Hey, how you doing?" on their wall. At least now, I have the OPTION, as the VISITOR of their page – whether I want to see all their personalised crap.Personally, I think it's very selfish and naive of people to expect Facebook to change back to their old design, because they could access things easier. Your profile isn't for you, it's for other people – what about how they feel when loading your profile and it has 100 applications loading.I've been using the new facebook design for a long time now – and I admit, yes it's very different. Yes it can be slow at times – but they are working on this. Without releasing it they'll never be able to iron out the problems.If this was the original design and they moved to the, what is now, old design – then people would complain then. It's not because it's hard to use, it's not. It's because it's different and people don't like change.People moan about Facebook not asking for people's feedback. Well, I'm sorry – this new Facebook design has been in public BETA for long enough now and there was an option on there to ask people their thoughts.

Comment by Mike — September 18, 2008 @ 6:05 am
It's interesting to see people's different opinions on this. I can say that I was also resistant at first but after using it for a while I realized this change definitely allowed for a better user experience. The clutter is gone, It's great to login and see what your friends are up to right away, and in the only the cool and engaging apps will survive the change.. So really, give it a chance and it will grow on you.

Comment by Thais from SocialCas — September 18, 2008 @ 11:42 am
@Mike I whole heatedly agree with you … I am just astonished how outspoken everyone is about the redesign. I think this is Facebook's fault for making such a big deal out of th redesign effort… they should've announced the change a few days prior to the switchover and ask for feedback as a way for users to vent out. That's that. What a drama.

Comment by kaveh — September 19, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
It wont be new and we will get used to it, but it will still suck.

Comment by skidesur — September 24, 2008 @ 9:08 pm
it's definately more organized…change is inevitable. I feel the people that are resistant or the ones who have problmes with change. It takes some getting use to but I don't mind it.

Comment by tasmin — October 1, 2008 @ 9:41 am

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Facebook is now The Official Internet Anti-Social Network!!!!!!!!

Comment by Lerepete — September 16, 2008 @ 11:51 am

I really don't see the big deal with the redesign. The large majority of people in the against groups haven't left one shred of constructive criticism. Saying "it sucks" or "it is myspace" doesn't help and changes nothing. Have you heard any "real" reasons people don't like the redesign?

Comment by Jeremy — September 16, 2008 @ 2:09 pm

I'll give you a plausible reason. It noticeably lags, and it's incredibly difficult to navigate. I can't find all the applications I once had on one page, now I have to click around and scroll around in 500 different tabs to find where they put it. I just think it's ridiculous that they forced this on us without asking everyone's feedback, and it's incredibly rude how they have not answered our concerns and complaints, but have simply said "this is the end-all, be-all of the Facebook setup. Put up with it, or go somewhere else." Which is NOT acceptable at all, because their fame and fortune is based off of their userbase, and when such a significant portion of their users are dissatisfied with their new product and their attitude, you know something's not right.

Comment by Meghann — September 16, 2008 @ 4:49 pm

What IS easy to find in the new Facebook profile is the Pay Per Click advertising. Funny that.

Comment by Stuey — September 16, 2008 @ 11:46 pm

This is NEW COKE of 2008. CAN IT!!!

Comment by sally — September 16, 2008 @ 10:55 pm

maybe we'll become used to it, as you say
but we still won't like it
the new facebook is :
*confusing
*disorganized
*slow
*not easily navigated -> multiple clicks to locate something that used to be right on the profile page
*not visually appealing
*users do not have the freedom to customize their pages like before
*the mini feed and the wall are now one feature. ANNOYING! the wall was the single best thing from facebook, and now its messed up with the WORST THING.
*despite the number of new users, i'm quite confident that, given an opportunity to use the OLD version, they would prefer it much much more over this new “improved” version.
*facebook doesn't care about its users enjoying the site anymore… they would rather make more money off of the extra ads, than have the same great format people knew and loved

Comment by katie — September 17, 2008 @ 12:42 am

Superbobbes, PLEASE!! The OLD was superfast in comparison. The new is a clogged mess. Everyone adopted The OLD because everything from design to function was superior and still is. The new is inferior, ruinous to work that's already been done by users and they… REMOVED THE APPLICATIONS!!!!!!!! That alone was the dumbest thing done by light years. One of the PRIME attractions to Facebook were the Applications, of course. It's not attractive anymore!! SAY NO TO CHANGE!! At least give us an option!! VOTE NO TO CHANGE!!!!!!!!

Comment by Lerepete — September 17, 2008 @ 4:20 am

@katie:
slow?? hahah good joke! slow was the old side with profiles full of applications. it took hours to load it.

@all:
you should try with it and dont always say its shit. you will get used to it. if you think why should i try then you are to lazy to learn new things!

Comment by superbobbes — September 17, 2008 @ 3:45 am

@Lerepetethey will change it. you cant roll back the decision. do you think they spent so much money and time on working with the new design to dont change it now! i dont think so. so get used to it you have no choice

Comment by superbobbes — September 17, 2008 @ 5:18 am

I like the new design. I don't have any problems with it. Facebook is a company that cannot afford to go back to the old profile, it has to go hand to hand with new tecnology.

Comment by IK — September 17, 2008 @ 6:01 am

It looks horrible & is so awkward to use!! I hate the new layout!!!!!!

Comment by BeyondRace — September 17, 2008 @ 11:28 am

@MeghannThey didn't "force" it upon you without asking for feedback. In fact, that is precisely why they have been allowing ALL users to beta test the new design for quite some time now — and they EXPECTED user feedback. I urge you to start playing an active role on websites that you enjoy and frequent, such as Facebook. If more users actually took the time and energy to partake in beta tests and provide constructive feedback, there would be a lot less outrage and confusion.As for my opinion on the re-design, I'm in favor of it. It's not without it's flaws, but those will be addressed in due time. I feel that the users "information" (favorites, activities, about me, etc) is now less relevant because it has been moved to it's own out of the way tab, so less people will be inclined to look at it — but that is not a fatal flaw, per se.Generally speaking, Facebook is all about feeds and networking, and I feel the new design re-enforces these concepts.

Comment by Spiralateral — September 17, 2008 @ 11:49 am

People need to seriously cool it. So much energy towards a Facebook design yet people cannot put that same energy into something far more important? There are definitely other issues to be looked at. The new change isn't even half bad!

Comment by Nick Stamoulis — September 17, 2008 @ 1:29 pm

This whole "I don't like the new design" is a load of rubbish.No, people don't actually know if they DON'T LIKE IT, they have just taken one look at it, thought "urg that's different and I don't know where things are", they therefore can't use the new facebook, because they haven't taken time to try – and sit their complaining about it.Instead of submitting constructive critisism, they just join pathetic groups like "Petition against the new facebook". People need to realise, it'll never go back to how it was. Facebook are moving with the times, staying modern in their programming as-well as their design. They aren't going to have come all this way forward to turn around now and say "Meh, let's just go back to the old version. Users are crying".I like the fact that they are trying to categorise things, with tabs like 'Boxes' – it means I don't have to go onto my friends profile, who may be an application nutter – to have to wait for the page to load for a few minutes, then scroll for a few minute just to write "Hey, how you doing?" on their wall. At least now, I have the OPTION, as the VISITOR of their page – whether I want to see all their personalised crap.Personally, I think it's very selfish and naive of people to expect Facebook to change back to their old design, because they could access things easier. Your profile isn't for you, it's for other people – what about how they feel when loading your profile and it has 100 applications loading.I've been using the new facebook design for a long time now – and I admit, yes it's very different. Yes it can be slow at times – but they are working on this. Without releasing it they'll never be able to iron out the problems.If this was the original design and they moved to the, what is now, old design – then people would complain then. It's not because it's hard to use, it's not. It's because it's different and people don't like change.People moan about Facebook not asking for people's feedback. Well, I'm sorry – this new Facebook design has been in public BETA for long enough now and there was an option on there to ask people their thoughts.

Comment by Mike — September 18, 2008 @ 6:05 am

It's interesting to see people's different opinions on this. I can say that I was also resistant at first but after using it for a while I realized this change definitely allowed for a better user experience. The clutter is gone, It's great to login and see what your friends are up to right away, and in the only the cool and engaging apps will survive the change.. So really, give it a chance and it will grow on you.

Comment by Thais from SocialCas — September 18, 2008 @ 11:42 am

@Mike I whole heatedly agree with you … I am just astonished how outspoken everyone is about the redesign. I think this is Facebook's fault for making such a big deal out of th redesign effort… they should've announced the change a few days prior to the switchover and ask for feedback as a way for users to vent out. That's that. What a drama.

Comment by kaveh — September 19, 2008 @ 8:15 pm

It wont be new and we will get used to it, but it will still suck.

Comment by skidesur — September 24, 2008 @ 9:08 pm

it's definately more organized…change is inevitable. I feel the people that are resistant or the ones who have problmes with change. It takes some getting use to but I don't mind it.

Comment by tasmin — October 1, 2008 @ 9:41 am

Millions of Users Dumbfounded by New Facebook Design

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