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More Facebook Changes: The Great Parenting Time Suck
Facebook news feed changes designed to make it easier to spend more time on the site.
Be honest. How much time do you spend a day on Facebook? I can’t really gauge my time accurately because it’s all tied into how I make a living. But, if I had no monetary reason to post links and try to encourage people to read what I write, how much time would I spend on Facebook?
I dunno.
I do know that I’ve found myself engrossed in Facebook, stalking old friends, checking out pictures all while my daughter dances around my feet begging me to play with her. Yup. I’ve done that. Have you?
Now, the reasons to spend more time on Facebook just multiplied as major changes are being announced. The changes, revealed in a blog posting by Facebook’s Mark Tonkelowitz, are designed to make the content appearing on news feeds more relevant.
Here’s what you can expect when you log on today:
Tonkelowitz explained how the news feed will work now by comparing it to reading the front page of the newspaper:
When you pick up a newspaper after not reading it for a week, the front page quickly clues you into the most interesting stories. In the past, News Feed hasn’t worked like that. Updates slide down in chronological order so it’s tough to zero in on what matters most.
Now, News Feed will act more like your own personal newspaper. You won’t have to worry about missing important stuff. All your news will be in a single stream with the most interesting stories featured at the top. If you haven’t visited Facebook for a while, the first things you’ll see are top photos and statuses posted while you’ve been away. They’re marked with an easy-to-spot blue corner.
A new Ticker has also been revealed, which allows updates to be shared in real time, which should keep you from missing things your friends post. The feature allows users to react to comments, photos and check-ins without losing their place on the site.
Here is more on the Facebook news feed changes. Judging by the thousands of comments I’ve seen all over the internet, people aren’t digging it. What about you? Do you like the changes? Will you spend more time on Facebook or are you already freaked out about how much time you’re spending there while shirking your other parenting responsibilities? Or is Facebook a much-need lifeline for you? Is it how you chat with other parents with whom you have something in common and can then better handle the trials and tribulations of parenthood?
Think before you update: 10 Pregnancy Details Your Online Friends Don’t Want to Know!
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12 Comments
jeneria commented on Sep 21 11 at 9:03 amI hate these changes more than the previous changes. I DON’T want my activity being broadcast on someone’s side bar. That’s why my profile is totally clamped down in terms of privacy. Just because Zuckerberg wants to stalk an ex girlfriend or whatever, doesn’t mean the rest of us want to see what others are doing. I also hate how I’m not smart enough to understand what stories are interesting to me, I need FB to give me a blue tab. It’s cluttered and it’s not how I want to engage with FB. Soon there will be no friends and it will be one giant social network just blasting digital noise.
Monica Bielanko commented on Sep 21 11 at 9:09 am@Jeneria – I totally hear where you are coming from. It’s just too much. Simplicity is key.
jeneria commented on Sep 21 11 at 9:21 amI can see having a ticker of status updates of your most commented on friends who might be lost in a sea of random babble, but I really just don’t like someone I’m not “talking” to seeing my comments on someone else’s (probably not even on their friend list) profile. It’s weird and voyeuristic.
Cindy commented on Sep 21 11 at 9:50 amAre there any privacy settings for the ticker? I also don’t like the idea of random people I’m not friends with viewing my status just because an actual friend of mine commented on it.
Heather W. commented on Sep 21 11 at 10:34 amI HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! (please insert me kicking and screaming like a 2 year old having a tantrum followed up with some pouting) Way too much going on and I’m actually computer savvy. My mom, not so much. I can barely deal with this how in the world am I going to explain it to her… /sigh And seriously, I know we’re friends and all but I need a little space.
bob commented on Sep 21 11 at 11:34 amFeel free, yall, to make this your final straw. Life remains quite livable here, outside the FB barnyard.
Fremont commented on Sep 21 11 at 11:50 amHate it. How the heck does FB know what’s important to me?? I just got myself a Google+ account….
Ami commented on Sep 21 11 at 12:04 pmAdd me to the list of haters. Too confusing, too invasive, and too much going on all over the site. Grrrrrr….
A commented on Sep 21 11 at 12:15 pmDon’t like it. It was working just fine, without these annoying changes. I hate the ticker, and I don’t want FB deciding for me what is my top news!
Sammy commented on Sep 21 11 at 12:49 pm+ 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000 it sucks
michelle commented on Sep 21 11 at 2:46 pmSo glad I haven’t joined FB and never will. Their whole model is built on taking away more and more of your privacy, so they can hit you with more and more advertising, and Mark Zuckerberg can make more and more billions off you. I’m not one of FB’s mindless minions. I live a real life. So should you!
lam commented on Sep 21 11 at 10:01 pmYes Bob! There is life outside of Facebook people! How much time do I spend on Facebook? Zero! Or, as it’s known in my mind, “f’***ing facebook”. It’s stolen so many of my friends, I really can’t believe they’ve traded in so much for such a shallow enterprise. Choose Life!
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