Facebook News Feed to get face-lift?

Might we finally be getting the long-sought-after “dislike” button on Facebook?

The social-networking giant is working on an overhaul of its News Feed product, where users post status updates, photos, videos, and other items of interest, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Facebook is considering an unfiltered News Feed, which would dramatically increase the amount of content users see on their homepage, people familiar with the situation told the newspaper.

The site is also working on expanding the functionality of its “Like” button to include other hand gestures created by third-party developers, allowing users to share information about products or services with their friends. The move is seen as key to attracting more marketers to the social network.

A Facebook representative told CNET that the company was testing News Feed changes but declined to address changes to the “Like” button.

“We are currently testing a feature within News Feed that gives people the ability to see what their friends are commenting on and ‘liking,’ as these actions are being taken on Facebook,” Facebook said in a statement. “This test includes a small percentage of Facebook users, just a fraction of a percent. In the coming weeks, as we learn more from this test, we’ll keep making improvements and may expand it to more people.”

Facebook is expected to detail the updates at its F8 conference for developers, although the company hasn’t yet announced when that will be, the Journal noted.

Borrowing a feature from social-networking rival FriendFeed, Facebook rolled out its “Like” button in February 2009, allowing users to express their approval for the messages, photos, and other content their friends posted. However, the feature doesn’t allow users to quickly voice negative opinions, inspiring at least one developer to create a Firefox extension that adds a dislike button to Facebook posts.

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Half now use social network sites

Use of social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter in Northern Ireland has doubled since 2008 – and half of people now access them regularly, according to Ofcom’s annual Communications Market Report.

Customers are going online for everyday needs and tasks, with half watching television, video or checking bank accounts, and a third searching for information on health-related issues.

Ofcom Northern Ireland director Jonathan Rose said: “Over the last five years we have seen Northern Ireland catch up and in some cases overtake the rest of the UK in the use of the latest communications services.”

Since 2008, broadband penetration in Northern Ireland has risen to 75%, making the region second only to England among the UK regions for take-up. The 5% increase from last year reflects increasing speeds, with the roll-out of super-fast broadband across Northern Ireland and Belfast in particular enjoying lightning speeds.

Consumer satisfaction with speeds increased significantly over the last year, with 83% claiming to be fairly or very satisfied, 13% more than last year. Urban customers were more satisfied than rural counterparts.

Northern Ireland has benefited in recent years from extensive investment in the telecoms infrastructure by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, BT and other operators.

Ofcom conducted 511 interviews in Northern Ireland last winter, split between urban and rural areas. It found that 47% use social networking sites regularly compared to 22% in 2008.

Most people (53%) watch television or video online, 51% use internet banking and nearly a third (32%) access health information online. Broadband penetration stands at 75% while 92% use a mobile phone – and almost a quarter use a smartphone such as iPhone or Blackberry.

Meanwhile, BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle remains the most listened to radio station with an average weekly audience of 591,000 listeners tuning in each week, according to the latest Rajar (Radio Joint Audio Research) figures for the second quarter of this year.

These figures show an increase of 59,000 listeners to the station year on year and an increase of 26,000 listeners quarter on quarter.

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