Facebook Starts Testing New Web Interface

Facebook announced a major redesign to its web interface back in April. The company’s newly redesigned web app, dubbed FB5, introduces a modern new design that’s heavily inspired by the company’s mobile apps.

The company has now started testing the new interface with some users, letting them opt-in for the new Facebook design. Android Police reports that some users are prompted to try out the new interface, and they are instantly given the option to choose between a light or dark theme straight away. You can also switch back to the classic Facebook design if you aren’t a fan of the new interface.

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The new design is identical to the one Facebook showed off when it first introduced FB5. The new design includes a lot of rounded elements and is supposed to offer a faster experience while letting you find things faster than before.

“FB5 is a fresh new design for Facebook that’s simpler, faster, more immersive and puts your communities at the center. Overall, we’ve made it easier to find what you’re looking for and get to your most-used features. People will start seeing some of these updates in the Facebook app right away, and the new desktop site will come in the next few months,” Facebook said back in April when it first introduced the new design.

It’s not clear exactly how many users Facebook is testing this new design with, or when the new design will be ready for the public. Facebook said the company is planning to roll it out over 2019, so a wider release could happen before the end of the year.

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Conversation 4 comments

  • Omega Ra

    Premium Member
    21 October, 2019 - 4:26 pm

    <p>I am a beta tester on it. </p>

  • Thom77

    21 October, 2019 - 6:44 pm

    <p>There is a pattern developing where these companies are redesigning their sites to provide less exposure in general and more control on what you see. Youtube comes to mind, their new design that I am seeing currently has 50% less videos on the screen to choose from, and all the ones that are on the front page are brand safe, mainstream drivel. Apple's Ipad App Store has so much wasted space its laughable and is designed to push you in the direction they want. The days of actual "browsing" is over, your now browsing the stuff they want you to see, not all the stuff they have to offer. Remember when Google search results would have a list of relevant results in a nice, long list that filled the screen? (oh, and it wasnt nefariously manipulated?) …. now there are small boxes side by side at the top to give the impression of "official" results, while the list below is now boxed in, wasting a ton of space, and discouraging scrolling because there is only 3 or 4 results shown at one time on the screen now. This new design in Facebook seems to be following the trend.</p><p><br></p><p>This is all a control mechanism to control what you see, to get you to pay more attention to the things they want, to make it easier to bury results and information, and to funnel you into a more controllable environment that they manipulate and control.</p><p><br></p><p>… all to improve your user experience, of course. </p><p><br></p>

    • bd15theory

      22 October, 2019 - 5:06 am

      <blockquote><a href="https://www.thurrott.com/cloud/social/220277/facebook-starts-testing-new-web-interface#482502&quot; target="_blank"><a href="#482502"><em>In reply to Thom77:</em></a></a><a href="#482502"><em></em></a></blockquote><p>In order to save more time for most users…The big companies always get to control more. </p><p>Also Facebook is already a shitty enough platform in this case. Suckerberg just started dissing China recently only because they would never let him in despite all his efforts. </p>

  • ronh

    Premium Member
    22 October, 2019 - 1:00 am

    <p>I don't want to see Stories or suggested groups or messages. I just want my profile pic up top and my feed. </p>

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