My newsfeed was full of updates, stories and photographs of exciting places and even more exciting faces. Coupled with some relationship drama, back and forth arguments and a few overly emotional updates (myself included). It became an insight into the world of others, and we all loved it (even the haters who joined Facebook and never posted). We see you stalking us haters...
Social Media is huge, massive and totally blows my mind every day. In this ever changing social world I knew even back in 2007 that Facebook was going to grow and update while the digital world it lived in continued to grow too. Now at over 1.23 billion users worldwide (as of Feb 2014 on their 10th Birthday), and with over 500 million of these logging on daily, it is pretty obvious to say that Facebook is one of the largest social platforms in the world. With such a large user base, Facebook has always worked hard to bespoke and improve the use experience for each of us.
I love the groups functionality where individuals can share their love of everything from old school movies, retro football shirts and vintage fashion. The Graph Search was also one of my favourite updates to happen to Facebook. Been able to find out about restaurants my friends ate at and stores they recommended made Facebook far more than just a friendship tool. It became a source of information from my most trusted advisors - my pals.
The share functionality that allows individuals to share stories, statuses they like and (my personal favourite) the Facebook page that reunites lost teddies with their owners. Honestly, it truly is the sweetest thing. Facebook I salute you.
But I hated it when they made all previously private messages public on your newsfeed and I strongly disliked the header photo feature for a while. And don't get me started on the adverts. While it is part of my working life, Facebook adverts and brand sponsorship drove me crazy in the beginning - I think the algorithm must have been ridiculously out to start with or I was profiled completely incorrectly? I'm not one for washing tablets, breast feeding groups and American Apprentice updates. Never mind.
But more than anything I hate how my newsfeed currently looks.
Gone are my friends; their statuses, their opinions and their faces. It has been replaced with grainy videos of a cat doing something silly, an American football game clip and the gospel to many; The Lad Bible. Or my current favourite Ugg Boots for $14 tag. It is even worse on my mobile app than on my desktop feed and I spend my time deciding between the below options.
Now don't get me wrong, I love an animated gif - a previous colleague of mine and I used them as communication on a daily basis. Watching videos of dogs doing funny things too are also in my top 10 things to do. Video content that is shared directly from channels such a Vimeo, Vevo and YouTube is, mostly, great and shows personality and opinion that someone has found some content and taken the time to share it with their friends along with a comment about what they think.
But friends - I miss you.
I want to hear what you are doing, I want to see pictures of your holidays and I want to know what you think.
So please, stop sharing the videos and tell me more about you.
And if you must share the grainy videos, tell me what you think and why you've shared it.
I do care about you, my Facebook friend, after all.
