New Interface Simplifies Facebook Events
Facebook is trying to make its interface simpler for new users and existing users — see its news feed tests if not Facebook Lite for some very obvious examples of these changes. But the company is also tackling its own applications. Events, for example, recently got an upgrade.
Now, there’s a clear, three-step sequence. First, it asks you to fill out a minimal amount of information: Title, location, start and end times, and your preferred level of privacy. In the old design, there were more fields, and it required you to add host, event type, and location. Location is now optional. Host is no longer an option; the normal interface implies that you are personally the host. If you have a group or Page that you’re trying to create an event for, go to those pages and create a specific event via the “create a related event” link.
Any details you want to add to the event are now in the second step. Inviting friends is the third. If you want to add a picture, you no longer have to both select a file from your computer, then click on “upload” to add it. Now, selecting the file will upload it automatically.
So, all in all, these design changes seem small, and follow other iterations, like Facebook’s introduction of a simple event planner to the “publisher” feature earlier this year. Yet many users may not have been creating events because they are confused by the interface. Perhaps these changes will make the Events app — and Facebook — a more integral part of users’ lives.
See the new interface, above, and the old interface, below, via Mashable.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:04 am
This is so much simpler! But this isn’t just for Facebook Lite rite? Hope this is for the normal Facebook version too. Going to check this out now.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Still no way to input recurring events?
October 7th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Clemence, yeah it’s for normal Facebook.
Scott, that’s a good point. Maybe in the next upgrade?
October 7th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
[...] fra Facebook, der løbende eksperimentrer og tilpasser interfacet, ser ud til at være en sorteringsmekanisme i form af “Top news”. Funktionen [...]
October 7th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I am of two minds with this change.
I manage a fan page for a Miami neighborhood where there are tons of events. What I like about this change is that now “Events” appear in the news feed, which they did not always do in the old version. No matter how many times we mentioned it, we could not seem to get people in the habit of clicking the “Events” tab to stay updated on things. So, yay!
The second Saturday of every month features multiple gallery openings and art events. The downside of the above mentioned thing that I thought I liked is that now ALL the events hit the wall at once (no pun intended) creating kind of a spammy feel.
Truthfully, I am not so sure that the new 1-2-3 format is any easier or harder. Now I need to click more times to populate the same fields. The only thing easier is the photo upload, I guess.
All in all, as a uber power user of Events, I vote “meh.” I realize your mileage may vary…
October 8th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Facebook needs to allow businesses customers to contact people who have RSVPd to their events. With the ad module that allows businesses to pay to promote their events, it doesn’t make sense to not allow businesses to contact the people who RSVP that they’re coming to the event.
I’m not saying that FB should turn over email addresses to businesses, I’m just saying that businesses should be able to send FB messages to these people to remind them of the events and let them know any additional details about the event.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I don’t like the fact that “Host” was removed as an editable field. I create events that are hosted by me and a small group of friends. Our social, random friends, situation doesn’t warrant the use of Facebook Groups either. At least put the Host option back under edit. Maybe it would be nice if it defaulted to your name and then we could change it if needed.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:06 am
We have created events and then later created a group. Since the “host” was removed we can’t attach the events to the new group. If we delete and recreate the event we lose the guest list. Removing the “Host” field is not simplifying the interface.
October 18th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Yes- I agree – the removal of the ability to edit the host field is causing difficulties – as my group posts local events of subject interest on the facebook page – but are not the hosts of the events.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
WE NEED HOST CHANGING BACK! Not everyone that makes a group in my student group knows to make it as a group’s event. Now I can’t come along and fix it and make sure it is associated with the group. We need it back! This is just a downgrade without the host feature.
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:02 am
I consider the removal of the Host option as a downgrade. If it was to simplify the interface this option could have been set as “optional”.
Now, it is impossible to associate an event from myself as physical person to my group as its admin.
November 5th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I agree with putting the “Host” option back – I also would like to see the phone# and e-mail option restored as well, as I post events for places that don’t have their own FB page of any kind, nor any interest in having their own, and it worked so much better last year (granted, I can – and have – put the ph# & e-mail in the body, but it was more convenient having it up in the ‘snapshot’ section of Event info). Why FB just goes ahead and make changes without consulting the users is beyond me – I realize it’s a benevolent dictatorship, not a democracy, but still, stop trying to fix things that aren’t broken!
November 17th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Please bring back the HOST OPTION! You need to be able to associate events created by others with a group!
December 13th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Foolish of Facebook to remove the option to add other admins.
You can still do it by inviting them, waiting for their response, and then making them an admin, but it shouldn’t be so complicated.
Has anyone at Facebook ever had a party?