Today Facebook announced an update to its much contested news feed. This new version builds upon the current hybrid news feed, and has some aspects of the old one. But instead of being able to toggle back-and-forth between “top news” and “recent news,” users will see a “sort” button at the top which gives them the option to see highlighted stories first, or recent stories first.
“The highlighted stories are the ones which have the most likes or the ones which are featured to you,” a Facebook spokesperson told ReadWriteWeb. “The most recent stories will be under those top stories. There will be a button where you can sort chronologically.”
One thing that won’t change in this news feed update is the larger-sized photos.
The update will rollout out tonight and continue over the coming weeks. See screengrabs after the jump.
Here’s the second screenshot:
This is big news for Facebook users, who have complained relentlessly since the news feed switched over to hybrid.
Giving users the option to experience a news feed that’s closer to the old one seems like a smart move Facebook.
The Facebook hybrid news feed has come under controversy since it launched. It has inspired more interaction than the old news feed, and the “new top story” section might be the reason. But Facebook users have demanded their old news feed – and it looks like they won.
Are you glad that the Facebook news feed is changing? Tell us what you think in the comments.
