Don’t Go Changing

There’s no doubt about it—change is hard. You get accustomed to something, someone, or some situation and then, out of nowhere, your regular routine gets upended and thrown out the window. Your circle of comfortability is breached. It’s jarring. It causes anxiety. Why else would starting a new job and going through a divorce rank as two of the most stressful situations a person can experience?

You know who really doesn’t like change? Facebook users. They really, really, really don’t like it when the developers over at FB’s painfully hip nerd headquarters in Silicon Valley start futzing around with the format. Whenever a known quantity is altered (the way your news feed looks, the layout of the navigation buttons, the photo viewer), it causes an uproar. Luckily, Facebook is the perfect place to start an uproar because it also happens to be the exact space used for venting, pouting and whining. That’s why I love this recent someecard:

Last week, Facebook started rolling out site updates and, just like every other time they’ve jiggered things up a bit, people protested—and by protested, I of course mean that they whined and complained like a bunch of spoiled Toddlers and Tiaras cast members. But of course the cries of outrage will eventually die down to a mere whisper of a angry Facebook group, because that’s just how it works. People stamp their feet and hold their breath, and then they adjust.

It could be a while before that happens this time, as last week’s minor tweaks are merely a precursor of what’s to come. Facebook’s brand-spanking-new Timeline is going to drop like a bomb next week. It’s a total redesign of how your profile page looks, and frankly, I think it’s awesome. My good friend showed me how to pretend to be a developer in order to get a sneak preview of what’s in store, and I’m so glad that she did.

I’m sure plenty of people will poo-poo the new look. They’ll rant and rave, and post biting status updates but, eventually, the Facebook Timeline format will cease to be an ugly divorce and transform into the only thing we’ve ever known. I guess I’m a little weird because I actually enjoy change. I love it when Google, Facebook, media sites, etc. shake things up a bit and tinker with their look and usability. Sure it takes some getting used to, but most of the time that initial phase of awkward adjustment is just a minor bump in the road on the way to overall improvement.

So prepare to get your bearings. Much like winter, change is coming. But don’t worry—it’s going to oh-so-sweet in the end.