Tough Luck, Stubborn Internet-Denizens: Facebook Timeline Is Mandatory

February 2, 2012 2:36 pm |Posted In: Facebook | Written by: Kim LaCapria +

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Facebook recently rolled its newest layout format, Timeline, to users as an optional change. Users could roll over to the new layout if they chose to, but didn’t have to. Well, as is typical with Facebook, time’s up. Like-it-or-not, users must make the switch to Timeline.

Odds are if you are a Facebook user, you are familiar with how Facebook will change the site’s appearance once and awhile. The newest and probably most shocking transformation yet is the Timeline. And, as is also the norm for Facebook, the site is finally forcing its users to adopt the new layout.

The first time someone looks at Timeline, needless to say it looks confusing. However, we all know after a few months of using it, once all the complaining has subsided, we will get used to it, and then they change it again.

Prior to this newest layout iteration, you could keep your old style for a while. However, it’s too late for testing the waters: Timeline is now mandatory. This article isn’t going to try and convince you why Timeline is the better choice for profile layout; to be honest, this writer is still confused by it, too. However, users need to stay cautious about hackers, spammers, and advertisers lurking in the dark corners of Facebook.

Most users have seen a post to the effect of, “I hate Timeline, CLICK HERE to change back.” DO NOT click these links! First of all, Timeline is mandatory and users have no option to switch back to the old style.

More importantly though, is that this link is more-than-likely a spyware or spammer. They try and get users to click on a link, which then allows them to take over their profiles and post spam across the entire reaches of Facebook under your name.

Once Facebook gives everyone Timeline, users will have 7 days to preview and edit the information before it goes public. However there are other motives behind Facebook’s switch.

In a recent plan with Google, Facebook plans to keep track of much larger chucks of user information so online business owners can place more appropriate advertising. This has caused a separate but very large outcry against Facebook.

So we have forced layout changes and less privacy options than before? Boy, it seems like the cost of “free” services like Facebook increases more every day.

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