Facebook is changing. A new Open Graph platform for the social networking site is being introduced with more than 60 new Timeline applications being announced. This platform will allow third parties to communicate with Facebook’s Timeline and update your profile on your hobbies and day to day life. The idea for these apps is extended from apps currently in use involving third party organisations such as Spotify which lets you share your music interests with friends.
However, the introduction of changes to Facebook is often met with resistance; for example the new timeline layout has provoked groups such as “1 million likes to get rid of FB’s new Timeline” and “I Hate Facebook Timeline”. Such groups often gain a large amount of support at a rapid pace.
OnePoll carried out its own research into the opinions of 1000 Facebook users and their reactions to previous and upcoming changes.
Reactions to Facebook Timeline:
- Only a quarter of respondents currently have the Timeline installed.
- The majority of users do not have the Timeline installed because they do not know how it works (47.5%)
- Of those who have the timeline just over 50% actually support their new profile layout.
- 69.7% feel annoyed whenever Facebook makes changes. And 75.5% wish they would keep the layout the same.
New Applications:
- Despite the fact that 20.2% of those surveyed already had the Spotify app, the majority (67.5%) said they would not want to share other interests and hobbies on Facebook.
- It was only in fact 14.2% of people said they would like to use the new apps.
Gender Differences:
Men seem far less concerned with changes to their Facebook profile than women. Men are generally less annoyed by changes (around 10% less), and are more likely to apply the changes to their profile through the use of the timeline and apps (5% more).
Finding an explanation…
It appears that the main reason for the resistance to changes is that information will be less secure. When asked the main worry for users was that there was too much personal information available (54%). This is in fact also the main reason why some respondents do not have Facebook at all (31.7%), followed second by identity theft (18.2%). However, once users have installed the changes support dramatically increases.
Another reason for the lack of support may be that Facebook users do not know enough about these new developments before they are introduced. Indeed, 61.5% feel like they need more warning before changes are made, and 70% feel like there need to be better instructions on how the new functions on Facebook work.
So it seems that the developers at Facebook have noticed this resistance to change, and like the Timeline, these new apps are optional. However, from what OnePoll has found, if given more time and information, more users may be seduced by this new sharing experience.
