Another Week, Another Facebook Tweak

Doesn't take an industry genius to realize that the latest round of changes to Facebook's user-interface are in direct response to what can be accomplished on Google Plus. 

As people of faith, you'd think we'd be more excited about changes, given our fondness for 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.* 

Alas, when it comes to matters of this world and technology, we're not especially thrilled about change. Facebook has made some major changes. Here are a few:

1) Lists: You can now create and customize lists to sort "friends" into categories if you don't like Facebook's assessment of "Close Friends," "Acquaintances," and the ever-weird (in my world, anyway) "Family."  {I've created a category for "Church & Faith Folk."}

2) Timeline: Whatever your friends are posting is now streaming in real time up the side of your screen. Hover over an entry and a window pops up with all the options you'd find (i.e., like, comment, share) that you'd find if you went to the post itself.  {Reminds me of Twitter, so I'm happy!}

3) Enhanced customization: In addition to sort friends, there are now all sorts of ways to ensure who sees what, who gets blocked, how much is foisted upon you, and on and on. {I took a two hour nap after reading through all the new stuff.}

Everyone happy now? Of course not!  And what do these changes mean for churches and faith-based organizations? Take a look at the following resources and commentaries and let's chat!

Background/Overview:
Kevin Allen, Facebook Timeline among the biggest unveilings at f8 conference (ragan.com)
Brian Solis, Whoops, I didn't mean for you to read this (@Brian Solis)

Commentary:
David Hansen, Why I Love (Hate) Social Media (Called to Passion)
Mary St. George, Now you see it. Now you don't. (Social Media for Faith)
Zack Whittaker, Why do Facebook users hate change? (iGeneration)

Glorious Satire:
Ironic Catholic, USCCB: New Roman Missal The Solution To The Challenges of the "New Facebook" (The Ironic Catholic)

* "...but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet."