According to the Associated Press, Facebook has announced their persuasion to switch to a new profile format called Timeline. Lately, it has been merely an option for Facebook users to switch over to the new sensation. Though as of January 24, Facebook announced that they are giving people seven days to switch over to Timeline. If people still choose not to change their profile, Facebook claims they will change it for them themselves.

            Meanwhile, Timeline is more of a scrapbook on Facebook than the traditional profile, which includes a picture of the person’s profile and their current information. When activated, the Timeline account automatically replaces the person’s current profile. Even those who have not logged on to Facebook recently will automatically be switched over. Normally, Facebook would allow viewers to see the “older posts”, but that has changed since then. Timeline does not expose many wall posts from the past. A positive attribute to the new Timeline is that there is more personalization of the person’s profile. Many are able to have more control over which pictures they prefer to show and hide, and also move posts around. In addition, there is more privacy to a profile and more control to what posts they wants others to view and which ones they prefer to keep private to a certain group of friends. Along with the profile picture that will be on Timeline, Facebook has added something new and refreshing. Their new addition is a cover photo, which is the image that will pop across the top of the person’s profile page. This photo does not even have to be a picture of the person. It can range from a picture of a hobby, pet, or anything that reflects who he/she are. Also, it is advised to not use a close-up portrait because of the large dimensions. People can even add things that occurred before he/she created a Facebook. Events like when a person was born can be added as a part of the Timeline as well.

All of these things contribute to the dramatic difference Facebook hopes to make with their new invention of the Timeline.