Facebook recently announced that they’d be rolling out a new redesigned website for their desktop users. Keep in mind, this update is slowly rolling out over the course of the next few months, so you might or might not have the update just yet.
Introducing a fresh, simpler https://t.co/Rw6MBNKIl3.
This desktop experience will be rolled out to everyone over the next few months. Check out how to opt-in below. pic.twitter.com/r2FBCuBHBl
— Facebook App (@facebookapp) March 19, 2020
Unfortunately for me, I’m the only one on the PC.com team who actually has the new look, so I’m tasked with giving my take on the refresh. And frankly, based on a few days of using it, I’m not keen on it. Granted, maybe this is a case of just hating change, like the time Facebook change from their last design update from the real classic site design. You know, the one when people posted on walls? That was a crazy time.
But now, with this new update, they’ve opted for a ‘simpler’, less is more attitude with their site. To me, what it seems like is a mobile app re-skinned to fit on a desktop experience. I can understand the appeal for some users, and making an easier experience to use their site overall, but sometimes I’d prefer function over aesthetics.
On the right hand side of the screen, there’s two tabs named “Birthdays” and “Contacts” which admittedly, does make things easier to track. But when you add the left hand side of the screen’s fully packed with your profile, Messenger, Pages, Groups, and a whole bunch more, the page starts to feel a little crowded. I am also not a fan of how when I scroll up or down, only the middle part of your timeline moves. It truly feels as though you were using an app, while on your computer, it just didn’t fit.
One thing I am glad for in the update is the ability to use dark mode on your desktop Facebook experience. That’s a very welcome plus, with an easy toggle you can click on the ‘down’ arrow at the top right corner. From there, you’ll also be able to manage your profile, settings and privacy, Help & Support, the dark mode toggle, and a button to bring you back over to the original Facebook design.
Next to the ‘down’ arrow, there’s also where your Messenger, Notifications, and Create buttons are. The newly designed Messenger on the Facebook desktop experience is pretty neat though. It’s nice, minimalist, and well designed, much better than those old tabs at the bottom of the screen. Now, the Messenger uses a ‘bubble’ in the bottom right hand corner, which groups up individual chats as separate bubbles to quickly navigate between chats.
I eventually did change back to the classic Facebook, but not before getting somewhat used to this new design. But let me tell you, managing a page with this new redesign is truly a pain. Mostly because everything on screen, is bigger now. There’s only a limited space on the right where you can edit posts, or post something up. The rest is covered in these huge sidebars.
Overall, I can understand why Facebook is doing this, but in reality, I don’t want an app-like experience on desktop. See the design of the Facebook app on my phone, and the new redesign:
Similarities? Yeah, you can spot a few. It’s just not great for me personally. I want a fully fledged Facebook experience on my computer, and frankly, I don’t want a dumbed down version where I have to learn where things are all over again.
Maybe it’s just me who’s not a fan of change, because I can remember how much I hated the ‘Classic’ Facebook design when that was newly introduced. It’s most probably a matter of getting used to it when Facebook switches to this default, but still, I’m just not a fan.
For now.
