The Rockefeller Corporation published a study that the top reason people leave one company for a competitor is that they believe the company does not care about them.
Whether or not the release of Google+ was the catalyst, or a coincidence, Facebook answered public demand to improve their privacy controls, in a sweeping redesign with multiple new feature updates.
Many of the privacy centered changes we had recommended were actually implemented, when we put Facebook to the test with a panel of frequent users. While we can’t claim credit, it’s apparent that Facebook is taking user feedback more seriously.
Facebook has just rolled out the new updates to the public. After testing out the new design, we broke everything down for you into nine things you should know.
1. Clearly identify privacy settings in-line
Facebook changed the privacy term ‘Everyone’ to ‘Public’ and now uses representative icons to identify privacy settings, visible for each status update, video, and photo.
According to VP of Product, Chris Cox, “The goal is to have every single person who uses Facebook be able to answer the question of: Who is able to see this thing I’m sharing right now?”
2. View album privacy from your profile
No longer are Facebook photo privacy settings buried in custom privacy settings. Facebook took this privacy setting out from where it was previously hidden, and put it directly where users wanted it.
Users can now manage album privacy directly from their profile. Simply click Photos, then Albums and you can see, at a glance, the individual privacy setting of each album. Users can also change album privacy settings directly on their Albums page.
Formerly you had to go to Account > Privacy Settings > Customize settings > Edit privacy settings for photo albums and videos.
3. Change privacy settings of previous posts
User can set privacy settings of both new and old wall posts, in-line. Go back and share a status update with the entire world on Facebook, or restrict privacy to friends only.
Note: Clicking ‘Custom’ will open the same ‘Custom Privacy’ window that previously appeared when managing wall privacy, allowing users to set visibility to Friends of Friends or hide from certain friends.
4. See what privacy setting others set for wall posts and photos
Facebook will now let users see the privacy settings their friends set for photo albums and wall posts. In the example below, I can see that my friend above set his post to friends, as represented by the icon.
How this benefits you: Knowing if a friend’s status update is Public or not (signified by globe icon), lets you know if commenting on her status will make it appear on your activity steam and potentially appear in the newsfeed of any of your friends. If the icon is ‘friends,’ then you know only your mutual friends can see your comment in your activity stream.
Fear not, no one will ever see if you hid a post from your parents or coworkers. If you chose to set privacy settings for a post any one-off from Public or Friends, your friends will simply see that it says ‘Custom.’
5. “Preview Profile” feature is now “View Profile As…” and is no longer buried
It is easier to do a spot check of how the Public or specific friends can view your profile, from your profile itself. Facebook made the wording clearer.
Formerly, this feature was buried in the annals of Privacy Settings. Users previously had to go to Account > Privacy Settings > Customize settings > (then finally) Preview Profile.
6. Approve when others tag you, before it shows up on your profile
Users can approve or reject any photo or post they’re tagged in before it appears on their activity stream or profile. You can also manage visibility settings after you approve posts you’re tagged in.
If your friend tags you in a video, you can now approve the tag before it shows up on your profile.
Keep this in mind: If a friend decides to post a video, photo, or link directly on your wall, there is still no way to stop him, unless you’ve blocked access. As such, it is somewhat confusing why Facebook uses the terminology “review your pending posts,” since Facebook does not actually let you review wall posts by friends individually — only being tagged in them.
7. Screen tags friends add to content you post
With the new ‘Tag Review’ feature, you can approve tags your friends add to your photos and videos.
Read carefully: Facebook is not 100% clear in their labeling, so users have to read carefully. They wanted to differentiate managing tags friends add of you to stuff they post (see 6.) and managing tags friends add of anyone to stuff you post. Facebook calls the former ‘Profile Review’ and the latter ‘Tag Review,’ even though both deal with reviewing tags.
8. Ask someone to take down an unflattering photo, officially
Not only can you pre-approve if a friend tags you in an ugly or incriminating photo, you can also insist they delete it all together in a polite, official manner. Facebook makes the process of asking a friend to take down a picture easier, with the click of a button.
9. Other notable changes
Facebook also made non-privacy related changes, specifically:
1. Pictures are set on a white background
2. Users can include location in their status updates
3. Users can tag anyone in a post
You can now tag anyone, even if they are not your friend, to your photos or friends’ photos. Users, by default, must approve the tag if anyone who is not their friend tags them in a photo.
Conclusion
Facebook’s new release seems very reactionary given the timing and the founder’s previous stance that encouraged public sharing. We think this was a good thing.
Tech blogger Robert Scoble gave the changes a positive review, and credits the founder for altering his pro-’openness’ position: “One thing I admire about Zuckerberg is he’s a great learner. When people bashed him for being too far out in front of us, he drops back and does what people want before pushing ahead again.”
Good leaders have a vision, and great leaders are able to sometimes step back and deliver what the people want.
Posted in UX News. | 4 Responses
2 Responses to Target.com Redesign Misses the Mark
They also do not verify the address. I placed an incorrect zip code and state for my address and the process allowed me to continue. This will be very costly if the user accidentally inputs the wrong information, the shipper will most like have to re-send the item once the problem has been discovered. I am a developer and as a result not a good tester but I was able to find a few problems with the site. Terrible job, Target!!
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