Facebook group urges boycott

The controversy around Facebook's redesign could lead to a boycott by millions of users wishing to highlight their frustration with the new-look website.

One Facebook group, calling itself 1,000,000 against the new Facebook layout, has attracted more than 2.7 million members.

It is urging members not to use the social networking site during 18 and 19 October.

Other groups set up to protest against the new layout include Petition Against the New Facebook with more than 1.6 million supporters, while the group I hate the new Facebook has 1.5 million fans.

While the groups are likely to share angered Facebook members, the social networking giant, home to 100 million active users, is taking notice.

Discontent has been growing since the new layout was rolled out this month.

According to a Facebook spokeswoman the site has been tracking comments and is reaching out to some of the group leaders.

Among them is Jessica Fishbein, a school teacher from Florida and joint administrator of the most popular group.

"Facebook, which normally cared about the feedback of people, just made this decision, didn't really care what the users thought and isn't really responding to feedback. People are very upset," said Fishbein.

Common among the complaints is that the new version is 'disorganised,' 'tacky' and 'lacks the functionality of the original'. The message on the discussion boards and threads seems to be that new doesn't equate with better.

She said that while Facebook is unlikely to revert to its old design, she feels the company needs to acknowledge the main criticisms and make modifications.

Will you be boycotting Facebook on 18 and 19 October? Let us know on the Web User forums.

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