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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook is considering changing its News Feed structure to allow advertisers display more content to users. Paul Sakuma/AP

Facebook considers yet another tweak to its news feed

Prepare for yet more temporary outcry: Facebook is thinking of changing its News Feed in a pro-advertiser move.

FACEBOOK IS REPORTEDLY considering a wholesale revamp of its ‘News Feed’ feature, in a move that could radically change the everyday experience of its hundreds of millions of users.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the social networking site is contemplating overhauling the current homepage model, which uses an algorithm to discern Friends and Pages that a user interacts with less frequently.

Currently, the status updates from an ‘inactive’ Friend or Page are automatically hidden from view, with Facebook deeming them insignificant – but this algorithm may now be scrapped in favour of an entirely unfiltered feed.

The result of the change would mean a slightly more cluttered news feed – with users being presented with updates from brands, bands and celebrities which they may previously not have been viewing.

Some users have commented that the resulting feed – which would be considerably more busy and chaotic than the average user’s current experience – would perhaps have the effect of sending users to Google+, which has attracted admiration for its more minimalist layout.

Facebook is also said to be contemplating a new mechanism to expand the use of its ‘Like’ button, potentially allowing it to be embedded in further third-party websites and apps, but would not confirm this to Cnet.

The changes are expected to be announced at a developers’ conference next month.

In other facebook, Randi Zuckerberg – the sister of founder and CEO Mark – is to leave her position as the network’s head of marketing to set up her own social media company, RtoZ Media.

The Guardian reported that the new company will focus on “the exciting trends underway in the media industry”.

Mashable also reported that Facebook has begun a legal battle against an adult dating site, Shagbook, saying its business would be damaged if Shagbook was allowed to register a trademark of its own.

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11 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aaron Hastings
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    Aug 5th 2011, 12:36 PM

    Filtering parts of the News Feed was a ridiculous move in the first place. I’ll be glad to see it unfiltered by default. I don’t like Facebook deciding which friends I want to see and which ones I don’t. They’ve done this again with the new chat bar “feature”.

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    Mute Mike Reid
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    Aug 5th 2011, 12:40 PM

    Don’t call the chat a feature, don’t give it that much credit, call it a pain in the ass!

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    Mute Tal Tallon
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    Aug 5th 2011, 12:41 PM

    You’re missing the point there Aaron, they are not just un-filtering it, you will see feeds from bands and ‘pages’ didn’t like or have no interest int

    It;s stupid, and frankly, needs to be stopped. It’s the reason more and more people, including me , are using Google+

    Also, all you need to do now, is change the filter from ‘Top News’ to ‘Recent

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    Mute fitszpatrick
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    Aug 5th 2011, 1:19 PM

    I left Facebook since they refused my request for a fax based service.

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    Mute Patrick Coffey
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    Aug 5th 2011, 1:02 PM

    Buhbye Facebook ;D

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    Mute cybernoelie
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    Aug 5th 2011, 1:15 PM

    I posted on my Facebook account just yesterday that I’d be deleting my account today. I’m totally fed up with them changing the rules. Google gives me a lot more control over what I share and view plus the Android app has a great feature that shows you people nearby like Twitter.

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    Mute David Kelly
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    Aug 5th 2011, 1:31 PM

    This is one of the funniest statements I have ever read, it’s the “Tell them i’m not speaking to them” of the digital age…

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    Mute cybernoelie
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    Aug 5th 2011, 3:26 PM

    Tis true David, I was sorta chuckling to myself when I posted that comment above.
    I gave my friends my ‘snail mail’ address and some of my friends from the USA and Canada have said that they’ll send me postcards and the odd hand-written letter which actually gives me a bit of a thrill, I’m really looking forward to going backward :-)

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    Mute John Ó'Ríordán
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    Aug 5th 2011, 2:27 PM

    Facebook is so 4 weeks ago! It’s Google+ now.

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    Mute Luke Mac an Bháird
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    Aug 5th 2011, 1:18 PM

    Just a matter of time before Facebook becomes the new Bebo. Already have a Google+ account and expect people to be shipping their socialness there soon…. very soon.

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    Mute Torrentum Cedron
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    Aug 5th 2011, 12:54 PM

    I actually can’t stand facebook and deactivated my a/c ages ago. I much prefer email. I’m guaranteed only the recipient sees the message and not everyone else too. Try contacting your facebook friends via email – you’ll be amazed how difficult it is now facebook has taken over.

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