"We really messed this one up," Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg wrote in an open letter to all users in response to rampant criticism of the Web site's newest feature, the News Feed.
The News Feed collects information from the actions of all of a user's friends and compiles it into a chronological list on the user's home page, leaving many users feeling the loss of privacy.
"It makes you feel like a stalker because it centralizes the information you'd otherwise see in passing," first-year College student Elise Klova said.
The News Feed doesn't include any new information, but rather makes the obscure facts more visible.
"A lot of friends you have on Facebook aren't your close friends, so it's awkward when you find out about things like break-ups," Klova said.
Klova said it seemed like the Web site's staff did not do any research before implementing this change.
"I haven't talked to anyone that has liked the changes," first-year College student Katie Kline said.
Criticism of the News Feed has spurred the creation of many Facebook groups, the largest of which is "Students against Facebook News Feed (Official Petition to Facebook)" which currently has over 700,000 members.
Zuckerberg responded to the rampant criticism three days after the News Feed was released Sept. 5.
While admitting the Web site made some errors, such as a failure to publicize privacy control features, he defended the new feature as a way to keep students better informed about their changing world.
Dean of Students Penny Rue said the recent changes made the Web site even more disconcerting.
"I value Facebook's role in creating a social identities network," Rue said. But it "can create some hurdles so it should be used carefully."
Facebook has always allowed users to only reveal what they wanted to reveal through privacy controls. Facebook has attempted to assuage users' concerns by publicizing new privacy options for the News Feed, however, this has not changed the opinion of all users.
"I think it's creepy," Kline said.
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