There was a time when I could not comprehend why my friends complained every time Facebook executed a layout change. I figured that listing complaints in status update after status update wouldn’t do much good. I also suspected that the changes, over time, would prove to be positive. I assumed this with the last layout change. But I was wrong.
Last week I came to the conclusion that the newest version of Facebook has lost touch with the elements that made it so great. The beauty of Facebook, at its genesis, was its simplicity. This has been lost. The site is now dominated by quizzes and fan pages. This is disappointing. The experience used to be about facilitating relationship between me and my friends. Now it is about applications and salesmanship. Bummer.
The latest changes to Facebook, in my view, mark the beginning of its demise. It is only a matter of time now that someone will introduce a simpler, more intuitive online social networking service that will be more enjoyable to use. In the last few weeks I’ve increased my frequency on Twitter, which is limited to updates from my network, keeps profiles short, and doesn’t overwhelm me with extra tools and features. It is simple. It is useful. And it is fun.
I miss the old Facebook.
I miss the old facebook, too. My biggest problem is that anyone can join now. Heck, both my parents are on fb… even though I love them both and have nothing to hide, it’s still weird how they can see what goes on in my life. It sucks =(