Like most people I was curious to see what Facebook had to unveil at their announcement today. Knowing how addicted many of us are to Facebook I wondered how deep the integration would go, and with the unveiling of Facebook Home now we know… too deep.
It’s not that I don’t like Facebook. It’s a great way to keep up with and in touch with those people you may not see on a regular basis, but after returning to Facebook after a 47 day hiatus for Lent (no, I’m not Catholic, just seemed like a convenient excuse to take a break) I realized just how mundane, and in some cases downright odd, many of the pictures and posts people put on Facebook are. And while I don’t mind perusing them when I have time, I don’t want them in my face on a constant basis, and I don’t want them taking over my phone.
With Facebook Home your lock screen picture is replaced with “Cover Feed”, which cycles through pictures your friends post on Facebook. Full screen images of whatever your friends felt compelled to post to Facebook displayed for all to see. Maybe it’s just my fault for not having the hipster, cool friends Facebook advertises who post clever, creative and hip photos, but most of the photos I see are not that interesting, and in some cases are downright embarrassing.
Is Facebook Home for you? Here are three simple steps to answering that question:
- Ask yourself “do I want my friends Facebook posts to control the look and feel of my phone?”
- If you answered “yes” then go to Facebook, scroll through your news feed and seriously look at the pictures posted by your friends. Really? You want these to be the first thing you see on your phone?
- If you still answer “yes” return to step #1.
I applaud Facebook for trying to evolve their relevance in mobile but they’re getting confused over the difference between people using Facebook as a way to stay in touch and smartphones as a device for helping me live my life. While there may be a small percentage of people for whom “social” is the primary reason they carry a mobile device, I believe most people want it available to them, subtly integrated where it makes sense, but not taking over their phone.
It’s kind of like that annoying friend who constantly interrupts and hijacks the dinner conversation. I might still like them, I just don’t want to sit next to them.
clarkb... 