Facebook’s getting a new look today — but its first major news feed redesign in years might just seem familiar.
The social network’s makeover is expected to include bigger pictures and video and a richer media experience.
In other words, it will look a little more like Google+, social media insiders said yesterday.
Google+ is the search giant’s Facebook rival, but it has far fewer users.
“We anticipate the new feed to look like Google+,” said Jeff Semones, president of M80, a social media marketing firm. “No one would ever admit it but Facebook has gone to the Google school of how to win in advertising.”
To be fair, Google+ has drawn plenty of inspiration from Facebook, and yesterday Google tried to preempt its rival’s big news by launching its own redesign tweaks, including larger cover photos and a tab that houses users’ local reviews.
Facebook has not released too many details, but there have been reports that it will introduce, at an event at its Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters, tabs so users can switch between photo feeds, video feeds, music feeds and other targeted categories.
“If what we see plays out as anticipated, it will be a better content experience for the user that enables better opportunities for advertisers,” Semones said.
In 2006, Facebook users notoriously rebelled against the changes to the news feed, and almost any attempt to alter the experience risks offending a segment of the billion-plus member site.
Today’s announcement is likely to face similar challenges, said Chris Cunningham, CEO of digital marketing firm Appssavvy.
“Most of the reception will be greeted somewhat negatively because that’s what happens,” Cunningham said. “We’ve seen this movie before.”
Facebook has learned over the years and updates to the site, like January’s introduction of a new search function, are now rolled out slowly.
Facebook shares, up 3.1 percent this year, fell seven cents yesterday to $27.45.