Facebook confirmed Thursday that it’s pulling the plug on a test that removed content from publishers and businesses from the News Feed, and put it in a separate “Explore Feed.”
During the five months it carried out the test, publishers from six selected countries saw a significant decrease in the number of users engaging with their content. And that was even before the algorithm change that took place in early 2018.
Adam Mosseri, head of Facebook’s News Feed product said that Facebook has decided against the separate feeds after polling users, explaining that
“People don’t want two separate feeds. In surveys, people told us they were less satisfied with the posts they were seeing, and having two separate feeds didn’t actually help them connect more with friends and family.”
The end of the test also marks the end of the “Explore” feed itself, a section of the app where users could find public content from brands or publishers they didn’t follow.
The bad news for businesses though, is that Mosseri confirmed that Facebook will still show more content from friends and families – and less from brands and publishers. At least now we will all get to compete in the same arena.
As Recode notes, the irony is that the separation of friends’ posts, and publisher content, is the premise of Snapchat’s redesign. Yes, that very unpopular redesign people are freaking out about…
You might also like
More from Facebook
Facebook To Begin Testing Topic Exclusion Controls For Advertisers
Facebook is to begin testing a new brand safety options, including new Facebook Ads topic exclusion controls for a small …
Facebook Oversight Board Publishes Decisions On First Cases
Back in December, Facebook's independent Oversight Board took on its first cases. Its decisions on these cases are now published.
Facebook Continues To Lose Users In The US And Canada
Facebook’s daily active users decline for a second quarter in the United States and Canada, caused by user fatigue and …
Facebook Launches Facebook News Portal In The UK
Facebook is starting to roll out Facebook News in the UK, a destination in its app featuring curated news from …
Facebook Revamps Access Your Information On iOS And Android
Facebook has announced a revamped version of its Access Your Information tool, making it easier for users to find and …
Facebook Bans Ads Promoting Weapon Accessories Ahead Of Inauguration Day
Facebook has announced a ban, on its platforms, of ads promoting weapon accessories and protective equipment - at least through …
Facebook Bans Donald Trump Indefinitely From Its Platforms
Following the recent events in Washington DC, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced an indefinite ban on Donald Trump from …
New Facebook Pages Come Without A Like Button
Facebook is rolling out a new design for Facebook Pages. It comes with new features, but without a Like button.
New Year’s Eve 2020 Sets New Records For Use Of Facebook Apps
Facebook was expecting a traffic spike on its apps over New Year's Eve, but this year broke all previous records …