newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The new Google+ social network went public to all users on Tuesday, and Facebook responded with some changes of their own. A lot of people aren’t very happy about it.

Facebook’s position on the changes was explained by Mark Tonkelowitz, an engineering manager. “When you pick up a newspaper after not reading it for a week, the front page tells the most interesting stories. In the past, our News Feed hasn’t worked like that. Updates always slid down in chronological order,” he said.

“Now all of your news will be in a single stream with the most interesting stories on top. If you haven’t visited Facebook for a while, the first things you will see are top photos and statuses posted while you’ve been away. They’re marked with an easy-to-spot blue corner.”

Reactions are coming in quickly. Web Pro News has listed some comments:

“Just when I was thinking about dumping Google+, all this happens. Procrastination pays.”

“ok i gotta agree with everyone else…what is up w/ fb?! i don’t need to know what everyone is doing every second they are on.”

“Facebook really needs to stop trying to figure out what I consider ‘important’ information….”

Meanwhile, Google+ is now open to anyone, instead of only through an invitation. According to USA Today, Google+ has improved its search function and expanded its Hangouts feature.

ABC News reports that the moves are only the beginning of Facebook’s changes. New statuses that were posted since you last logged on are noted with small blue triangles in the upper left corner. And there is now a “ticker” moving across the right margin which reads: “See what your friends are up to right now.”

San Diego 6 reports that Facebook has plans for a lot more changes in mind. Expected in the next few weeks are new ways to share photos, videos and music plus along with the "like" button, users will have "read", "watched", "listened" and possibly a "want" button.

Many users are asking for a “dislike” button right now.