Ah, facebook. How you enchant me.

Not to repeat the same themes from my last blog entry, but I've been thinking a lot about facebook lately.  Yes, everyone thinks of facebook a lot, I am far too aware.  But does anyone else miss Old Facebook?

This is what facebook looked like back in the day before I, as a then junior high / high schooler, was not allowed to join the exclusive "invitation only" network.  However, by the time I got my facebook in 2006, the design had already changed significantly from the original.  (To be honest, I don't even think the screencap above is the original design, but it its likely one of the first since the name still includes "The").  Simple, clean, and easy to navigate.
Since 2006, I've noticed that facebook has been getting more and more cluttered feeling, what with all the advertising that it supports as well as all the additional information, entertainment, and applications it now provides.  An entire column is dedicated to ads.

I don't prefer the new design.  But I do understand it.  Though still user-friendly, the newer designs are progressively more convoluted.  It forces the user to see more information, be intrigued by more information, and click on more links.  Essentially, the user stays on facebook for a longer period of time, mesmerized endless photos, status updates, and wall posts and exposed to the ads on every page.

Facebook is awesome.  But its still a business and it still relies on convincing, almost tricking, the user into getting lost in its depth for hours a day.  It uses design to ensnare users and hold their attention.  The more people visit facebook, the more facebook will evolve to fit the needs of its visitors....and its advertisers.