Facebook’s new-look newsfeed features bigger, more dramatic images, revamped profile display and matching mobile experiences. However, the biggest change, hands down, is the separation of feeds. For the first time ever, Facebook is allowing users to filter their content directly from the newsfeed by specific content type.
The feed selector is placed in prominent real estate. On the web version the choices are located in the upper right and on the mobile devices the feeds are located at the very top of the app.
The new feed choices that users can select from are:
All Friends
Images
Following (Pages/Subscribers)
Music
Most Recent Feed
Close Friends – The same
Games
Images
An earlier stat listed in the presentation showed just how many images were shown on the newsfeed, upwards of 50%. The new images feed will allow users to see everything shared that has an image. The example shown includes both Instagram and Pinterest in the feed.
Music
Since the announcement of Open Graph, images have played a much bigger role in the overall experience. Now, the music feed will allow users to see what their friends are listening to, and what their favorite artists are up to.
Both artist updates and friend music-oriented updates are pulled into this feed — just because it says “music” doesn’t mean it’s all audio files The example shown on screen today showcased an image from Maroon Five as well as an Instagram shot from Justin Timberlake.
Following
In a strange occurrence, the “Following” feed will feature both pages a user liked and people subscribed to. The pairing of this somewhat hinders the goal that the “Subscribe” button initially provided — the ability for users to connect with celebrities/public figures without having to share everything. The messaging of Subscribers and Page should be quite different, but they are clumped together within the Following feed.
An interesting twist on this feed is that, like Twitter, this will be featured in chronological order.
Most Recent Feed
Heavy Facebook users rejoice! This feed will now let users see every single update from their connections. This will show an unedited look at the newsfeed, something that many fans have been clamoring for.
The feeds that won’t see any major changes are “Close Friends” and ‘Games.” The functionality of these feeds will stay the same as if you clicked on those sections in the old/current version of Facebook.
For more information, see our Liveblog on the Newsfeed changes.
Comments