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Facebook's New TimeLine Feature: Past Is Present

Just when you thought Facebook couldn’t paint a more intimate picture of consumers’ lives, the network has gone global with its Timeline feature.

Regarding the feature, which lets users look at their entire Facebook history, VentureBeat writes: “It might be the most ambitious feature Facebook has introduced since the News Feed.”

“Timeline is similar to having an auto-generated personal website, replete with everything -- that's everything -- you've ever posted to Facebook,” explains NBC Bay Area.

While likely to rile privacy advocates, Timeline could also appeal to new (older?) demographics as it lets users exchange their profile page for a scrapbook-inspired listing of their history. “I loaded up Timeline this morning and was immediately hit with a sense of nostalgia,” admits CNet’s Don Reisinger. “I went back to updates and posts friends put on my wall years prior … And now, my friends and I can relive some of those moments.”

On the downside, The New York Times asks: “Remember those karaoke videos from three years ago that somehow wound up on Facebook? They were embarrassing for the few hours they spent at the top of your Facebook profile, and then they were buried under a cascade of new updates.” Alas, they are buried no more. 

PaidContent perfectly captures Timeline’s double-edged implications with the headline: “Facebook Timeline Is Here For All: Creepy But Beautiful.” “This feature should spur a lot of buzz and feedback for the next few days, while people see the limits and benefits of virtually scrapbooking their social lives -- but it undoubtedly will also reveal the limits,” writes VatorNews.

Also, to appease concerned users and privacy professionals, “Timeline adds a new, private feature known as Activity Log, which allows you to review all your posts and activity,” PC Magazine reports.

 

5 comments about "Facebook's New TimeLine Feature: Past Is Present".
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  1. Phan Vinh from Web Design Valley LLC, December 15, 2011 at 1:10 p.m.

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  2. Jill Kennedy from Manka Bros., December 15, 2011 at 7:58 p.m.

    It's so great! I love the idea of being defined, targeted and judged by what I watch, listen to or post. Haven't they cluttered things up enough? Facebook must be stopped...

    http://mankabros.com/blogs/onmedea/2011/09/01/facebook-must-be-stopped/

  3. Paula Lynn from Who Else Unlimited, December 15, 2011 at 8:32 p.m.

    A stalkers holiday and blackmailers home made present. All of those manipulated photos taken down, all of those untruths posted about you and all of those facial recognition apps of photos of you you didn't know were posted. We are begging to be controlled.

  4. Ronnie Perchik from PromoAid, LLC, December 16, 2011 at 9:23 p.m.

    I have been following the lawsuit against Facebook where they have chosen to ignore Timelines.com trademark on the name timeline(s). Facebook is trying to flex its muscles and bully the "David". What a shame that Facebook as forgotten that it was once was a small company too.

    You would think that the same company that once sued over another company's use of the word 'book', would just settle or come up with a new name.

    You can read more here: http://mashable.com/2011/12/08/facebook-timelines-lawsuit/

  5. Scarlett Jack from London Websites Design Agency, March 26, 2014 at 2:01 a.m.

    Timeline concept from facebook is even better than old school status.

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