The navigation bar, which is on the bottom of the Facebook app in iOS and at the top in Android, will be customizable, allowing users to replace some icons with the features they use the most.
The current navigation bar shows all users in the same country shortcuts to the same five things, which in the United States are the News Feed, notifications, menu, Watch, and Marketplace icons. In the new version, which Facebook will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, according to an article in CNET, the News Feed, menu and notifications icons will remain, but the remaining icons will show the stuff the users use the most. This will happen automatically at first based on usage, but eventually, people will be able to set them up the way they want.
“We want the shortcuts available in the navigation bar to reflect how an individual uses Facebook,” Product Manager Alexa Andrzejewski said in a statement to CNET. “To that end, we’re customizing mobile shortcuts so everyone can more easily connect with their most frequently used products.”
Highlights:
- Most users will see between four and six icons in their personalized navigation bar.
- Products that aren’t featured on the navigation bar will still be found by tapping the menu icon.
- When Facebook adds a new app icon, you will receive a notification.
- They started testing the new feature in February.
- It’s also a reminder that Facebook tracks what you do in the app, which may turn some people off already worried about their privacy on Facebook.
Go deeper:
- Facebook is making its navigation bar a little more personal – The Verge
- Facebook is personalizing the navigation bar on its mobile app – CNET
- Facebook’s Rough Week Continues as #DeleteFacebook is Trending – SocialChimp
