Facebook appears to be testing a new layout in the desktop version of the app, which is a nice change in pace, considering that we don’t really hear much development on the desktop version compared to the heaps of updates we get for its mobile counterpart. Some users have begun sharing the new format as it appeared on their screens.
Dropping on Desktops
Visually, the new format may be a lot to take in. According to Mashable, this new layout appeared to some users last week, accompanied by an alert prompt that explained the change. The new format also moves all navigation options to the left side of the screen. While it may rattle users who have grown accustomed to the classic Facebook desktop look, this image might help calm down a couple of nerves. Personally, the black theme doesn’t make it look all that tidy.
Mashable further notes that other desktop apps are aligned similarly, with Twitter and Gmail displaying all of its options in the same way, albeit being less ‘crowded’. The addition of collapsible menus could be a nice touch. Not only will it sort of declutter your screen, but it’ll also help streamline your focus by letting you view one central point, as opposed to having to decipher every option when viewing everything at once.
Then again, it could also be just a test phase, with the collapsible menus appearing in beta, only to be removed during the official rollout. Perhaps Meta wants to ensure that users are at least aware of the available options. By highlighting these options on-screen, Facebook also encourages broader use, as the visibility of new additions does spark a small rise in interest and curiosity.
There’s not a lot to go on at this point, especially if we consider that this might be the biggest thing Facebook has done for the app’s desktop version in the last couple of years. For the most part, some of the elements that were highlighted are still in testing, pegging them as mostly ‘test’ parameters whose main purpose is to gauge user response.
It may or may not work; no one knows for sure. It could be coming – or at least will act as an indicator of where Meta is looking in terms of developing the app for the next stage of connection. For all we know, the decision to change layouts might be a genius move, given enough time of course.
The Wrap
Information is still very limited at this point and Meta has yet to release any updates regarding testing. For now, the best we can do is wait and observe the noticeable changes. For those who can see the new layout, we encourage you to explore all the new elements to better determine if they’ll contribute to a more seamless browsing experience or not. Check button, placements, responsiveness – all those nice stuff.
With more people preferring the convenience and accessibility of mobile, it’s not too surprising to learn that development on desktop-based functionality is significantly less or slower compared to the development on mobile ones. This in itself is a shift, signaling that people are beginning to prefer digital experiences that they can consume while on the go.
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