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What is Facebook Timeline?

Our Broadband Expert says...

Hi Hannah,

First of all, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed for knowing little about Facebook’s Timeline. It’s a brand new feature that we’re all still getting to grips with. In many ways, it simplifies the Facebook format but at the same time it’s very different to what we know, so can take a bit of getting used to.

At the moment, having a timeline is optional. Once Facebook has gathered some user feedback, it’ll no doubt be rolled out fully, though time will tell whether it becomes a mandatory feature for every one of its members.

When you upgrade to Timeline there’s currently no going back. As it stands, it’s a permanent transition from “old” Facebook to new. So, while we still have a choice, here’s everything you need to know about timelines. Then you can decide for yourself.

What is Facebook Timeline?

Facebook Timeline is an interesting new feature that replaces our “wall” with a “timeline” and completely transforms the way content we share is displayed. Your timeline is a chronological stream of photos, life events and Facebook interactions that tell your story over a lifetime.

One criticism of “old” Facebook is that it’s largely concerned with what’s happened in the past week or so. Although our walls have always been chronological, major events - from births and marriages to break-ups and deaths - are quickly pushed off the bottom of the page and forgotten.

Your timeline will bring back those events, laying them out in a graphical and far more accessible way. Below are some of the things you can do with Timeline:

• Add a cover - A cover is basically a large image at the top of your timeline, which runs right across the page above your profile picture. It’s a way of making your Facebook profile a little more unique and individualised.
• Jump to the past - Everything on your timeline appears in chronological order, and is indexed by month and year. In a single click you can instantly jump to a specific point in time. It makes accessing embarrassing old photos easier than ever before.
• View highlights from each month - Facebook Timeline groups what it deems your most interesting “stories” to make scrolling back through time a simpler experience. These “highlights” are chosen on the basis of how many “likes” and comments they received, as well as other factors.
• “Star” stories you want to stand out - If you want an item on your timeline to appear more prominent than others, you can “star” it. This expands the item, and any images attached to it, to widescreen. Starred stories are always visible on your timeline.
• Add life events - You can add things to your timeline that may otherwise not have appeared on your Facebook profile before. You might add the date you left school or got married, for instance, including a relevant photo to make it more interesting.

How do I add a timeline to my Facebook page?

At the moment, Facebook Timeline is an optional feature that you can choose to either embrace or ignore. To get a timeline, visit the Introducing Timeline page and click “Get It Now”. Alternatively, you could wait until you see an announcement at the top of your profile. It is not yet clear whether Timeline will become a mandatory feature for all users.

What happens when I upgrade to Timeline?

Once you’ve upgraded to Timeline, you’ll have seven days to preview your timeline before other people can see it. You can use this time to add a cover, fill in your timeline with life events and star important stories. It might also be a good idea to hide any stories you’d rather your friends weren’t scrolling back to. Embarrassing old photos and cringe-worthy status updates were a lot harder to find before Timeline came along.

After a week, your timeline will be published automatically. However, you can choose to publish it manually at any time by clicking the “Publish Now” button at the top of your timeline. Until your timeline goes live, all people will see is your old Facebook profile. Remember, upgrading to Timeline is currently a permanent transition and there’s no going back once you’ve switched.

How does Timeline affect my privacy?

Upgrading to Timeline does not affect your privacy settings or alter the way in which Facebook uses your personal information. Visit the Data Use Policy page for more details.

Having said that, adding a timeline to your Facebook profile could have certain implications on how much people can learn about you - and things that have happened in your life - at a glance. Luckily, you can “hide” stories from your timeline, meaning no one will be able to see them. With a few simple clicks you can also adjust the privacy settings for each individual item.

For example, if you’re brave - or foolish - enough to have “friended” your boss on Facebook, there might be certain photos from nights out or your student days that you’d rather weren’t visible to everyone. It’s worth using your seven-day preview to adjust your timeline before it goes live.

Is having a Facebook timeline optional?

Facebook Timeline is still relatively new. At the moment, it’s an optional feature and we’re given the freedom to opt-in or stick to the Facebook format we already know. Once feedback from its users is evaluated, there will no doubt be a full-scale rollout. However, it is not yet clear whether Timeline will eventually be a mandatory feature. Currently, once you upgrade there’s no turning back.

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