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FACEBOOK USERS WHO have been avoiding the switchover to the new ‘Timeline’ feature will soon have to embrace change – because it’s coming whether they want it or not.
Timeline becomes mandatory in the next few weeks, and will see users’ profile pages change from the established linear format to one which displays photos, video and posts together on a user’s wall according to when the content was created.
So, what do users need to know about the new feature?
Timeline is a kind of ‘digital scrapbook‘, which maps out important moments in a user’s life on the social network by displaying everything that they have ever done on the site in a new visual way – including all their photos, posts, ‘likes’, Facebook apps they use and a map showing locations where they have been tagged.
Facebook even gives the option for users to add information to their Timelines from before they joined the site, so they can go back and add photos or posts about important dates in their life – like when they graduated, got married, or welcomed a new person into the family.
Once you get Timeline, you have seven days to review it and make changes before it is made public, reports SiliconRepublic.com. This gives you the opportunity to do a bit of spring cleaning and scrap potentially embarrassing posts and photos before the new format is seen by friends. Phew.
Criticisms
Concerns about the implications for users’ privacy have been raised by critics of Timeline, as a new default setting means that any post made by a user automatically become public unless marked otherwise. In other words, if a users neglects to choose ‘friends’ in the drop-down audience selector when posting comments or photos, the information can be seen by anyone.
That takes care of new comments and photos – but what about past posts? To make sure that old information is only accessible by your friends, click on the arrow symbol at the top right-hand corner of the Timeline, select Privacy Settings – Limit the Audience for Past Posts – Manage Past Post Visibility and then select Old Posts. In this way, the visibility of older information can managed.
Users who are unsure of how their profile looks to others can check this by clicking on the small gear symbol on the right-hand side of the large banner at the top of their wall: from that drop-down menu, clicking ‘View As’ will show how the profile looks to friends and strangers.
Although many Facebook users have already adopted Timeline willingly, it seems a significant number of the remainder have an overwhelmingly negative impression of the new feature. Recently, security firm Sophos polled 4,000 users about their attitudes to Timeline: 51.29 per cent responded that the feature “worried” them, and a further 32.36 per cent said they didn’t know why they were still on Facebook.
Of those surveyed, just 7.96 per cent said that they liked Timeline – and 8.39 per cent thought they would “get used to it”.
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Now: Stupid facebook, new layout sucks, it’s stupid I want the old layout.
1 month from now: What old layout?
Is not a must have……so if u dont like it …u kno wat to do….
Im worried that people will find out I do **** all :)
Simple solution…if you don’t like the new changes then delete your account.
It’s your choice.
The journal should consider having an e-mail log in option such as gmail or yahoo. The people who can comment is limited to social media users. I had to set up a whole twitter account just to comment on here. At the time it was annoying but now I quite enjoy twitter. I’m just saying the option should be there to connect via e-mail.
The whole point of facebook is giving up (part of) your privacy. Otherwise, you could continue to use email or text. If you don’t like it, don’t have a facebook account. Simples.
Don’t have a Facebook. Annoys me.
I think all the social sites should come together they can call it youtwitface :)
Love it! Cant beat a laugh on a Monday!!
I deleted my previous Facebook profile because of Timeline. I had been on Facebook for years and the idea that every single post that I had ever made could be easily accessed by people (even limiting it to Friends) was just too much.
I’m only keeping this one so that I can comment on places like Journal and other sites which insist on a social media login to contribute.
Yea I’m deleting mine, 2 reasons, im addicted, and this privacy crap is getting more and more annoying. The ticker thing really is an invasion of privacy. I don’t see the big deal about the time line thing but the whole thing is just getting annoying.
Facebook won’t last forever.
Don’t post sh*te on facebook so.
Awhhh.
I don’t like the timeline look very much but do like using facebook so…
“Will I stay or will I go now…”
Yeah I agree, I think it looks a bit bland. Plus I have finally figured out the privacy settings and have it set the way I want it. Now I’m gonna have to figure out the new settings and all the loopholes involved before I start sharing stuff. Ho hum.
If you are in any way concerned with privacy you shouldn’t be on Facebook at all really, it’s the polar opposite of privacy IMO.
Ways and means aydo. ;)
I have to admit it is handy for notifications/invites for events.
@Niamh – How does it look bland?! It gives you a nice big cover section to do as you please at the top (be original). It displays recent photos, and posts in a nice order (the two column thing is a bit odd, but you will get used to it. They seem to be taking the Pinterest approach with layout) IMO it’s a lot better, and a lot less bland than before.
Maybe its just a matter of getting used to it. Given time I’ll have all existence of old facebook wiped from my memory timeline :)
The new timeline is brutal it’s very hard to read each post as its scattered all over the page. Not into it but if it’s mandatory well I’ll have to get use to it.
I never cease to be amazed at the vehemence change brings out in people when it comes to Facebook and other similar sites. Talk about an overreaction! Are facebooks users such Luddites that they can’t spend 10 minutes learning a new layout? That line about 51% of people being actively “worried” about it is especially bizarre. It’s your Facebook profile, not the Spanish flu!
Reminds me far too much of Bebo. Too much happening on the one page. I liked facebook for it’s clean, minimalist and easy to navigate look :(
I think the current layout is fine, so I don’t see the need to change it to Timeline. It’s kinda confusing. This will probably just push me to use G+ more.
Whats the big deal about timeline its not that bad! I profare it! Things have 2evolve cant stay da same forever. And as fr privacy settings just set it da way you want it! its not rocket science people
It might not be rocket science but facebook privacy settings are notoriously difficult to navigate, they have been in trouble about it several times. You think you have it one way and then you realise its not set the way you want it at all. The inference has been that the settings are deliberately misleading and complicated so more of ur info can be accessed. You have to be careful how you use it. Some people have their info completely public and are.probably not aware at all.
And I am fully aware that I have a blog. I did write it after all
Hey Journal, last week called – it wants its news back!
Hey Muc Beag, the 1990′s called- It wants its joke back!!!
Deleted my facebook account nearly a year ago,give it a try. There IS other stuff to do.
I came up with a new social network site called facetube
Just changed over to timeline, seems like home page is still the same, they just changed profile page. no more or less private then what it was, you still get to edit what you want people to see. My account is just a whole list of years, 2011,2010,2009,2008,2007,2006,born.
I really don’t see how so many people find the new layout so “confusing”. If anything it’s a lot more simple and nicer to look at now. And if you keep an eye on your privacy settings then you’ll have no problems on that front. You can’t expect facebook to do that for you. It’s the same with every website, you need to keep your own eye on your privacy.
It’s the same everytime facebook make any change, there’s all this outrage and then all of a sudden people forget why they were complaining. People won’t even remember the old facebook in a few weeks
Niamh you obviously aren’t
Up to speed on the privacy features provided by facebook, so if you
don’t like it as so many others have said , leave well alone!
Good god I didn’t comment for a row, as I said the privacy settings on facebook are.notoriously complicated. Think you will find that I am completely up to speed on the settings. I’ll check urs for ya if you like?
you have cute kids ;)
It simplifies the whole experience, what could be easier than a time line? I thinks it’s great to be able to look back on the past year or even your whole life like a scrap book. If ya don’t want anyone looking in on your amazing celebrity lifestyle then don’t put it out there! and if ya do fine!!
Personally I cant see what the problem is… Something else to
add to the list of grumbling me thinks?
You missed the point. I dont want random strangers being able to access my info whenever they want. Its called safety.
Niamh, no random stranger can access your info if you just keep an eye on your security settings. If you’re not doing that it’s not really facebook’s fault
Obviously. And yes random strangers can access info….I have done it myself…I’m not a stalker btw :) but my point is as I said not everybody knows (or cares) how private their info is and facebook privacy settings are.notorious for.the lack of clarity. Thats all.
That’s that person’s fault for not keeping an eye on their own security settings. It’s not that hard to do
Yes it is but some.people are not as computer aware as you.
You have a fairly public facebook profile siomha….and blog….I wouldn’t want to share that.much info with random strangers…
What exactly do you consider as being too much information on my facebook Niamh? My interests? Because that and where I work is pretty much all you can see. Nothing that isn’t easily found out so many other ways
Ur profile is public siomha…I can see where you are from, where you go to college, where you live, what you are studying, ur boyfriend, his name, how long ur together and a lot more. I wouldn’t feel comfortable having.all that info open to anyone. To check if you have maximum privacy settings on there should be an s after http, also you type ur name into google, iud ur facebook account comes up then ur account is open.
None of that is really anything that isn’t easily found out? I left it there Niamh
That’s not public Niamh, Seeing my posts and comments and pictures would be public. No one can see those
Alright, on ur own head be it. That was my point re facebook security, its not the easiest to navigate and to ensure ur account is private.
Except that I knew exactly what I had as public and private so you haven’t really made any point?
Hmmm…sure you did.
I did actually.
Interesting fact Niamh:
Facebook even gives you the chance to see how you profile looks to the public and other people. I know exactly how my profile looks to the public
Yep….wotever you say.
Yep. That’s great. Well done.
I always liked the thought of having a stalker! At least this’ll allow him/her a bit of a break
Really like the new timeline I have to say…. I had a great laugh reading over all my posts and posts about events etc since I joined FB. I like the new banner picture as well. I think it’s very well layed out and easy to use. I can’t see the confusion that some people have. People will complain about anything really.
The only part of Facebook changing to Timeline is your home page. Your newsfeed and special groups will not change. Most people don’t go onto their homepage, so it shouldn’t bother most of us if it changes. It’s just what your friends will see when they log into your account, because they obviously can’t see your timeline. Only their own.
I have mixed emotions about timeline but either way, we’ll all be stuck with it soon enough. Here are seven resources to help you embrace Facebook Timeline: http://www.bit.ly/AmTpCn
will it be mobile phone screen doable? used to check fb 4/5 times a week on the pc,probably 10 times a day now on the iphone.
Timeline, tssh, its such a simplistic one dimensional view of things. Wake me up when they have introduced branching.
reminds me of bebo :-( but liking the idea of the cover photo
have your say