INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightFacebookFacebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has revealed a series of changes to the firm's portfolio of social platforms, including
Instagram and Whatsapp.The new designs and features for its apps are a direct response to widespread criticism of how the firm protects user
data.Mr Zuckerberg said the company plans to put privacy first.He acknowledged that there was much to do to rebuild trust.In a speech to
developers, Mr Zuckerberg described the firm's new focus on privacy as "a major shift" in how the company is run.Some of the more visible
changes to those who use the firm's products will include: Messages sent via Messenger will be end-to-end encrypted by default, meaning
Facebook itself won't see the contents, and the platform will be fully integrated with WhatsAppInstagram is trialling a "private like
counts" feature which would hide the "likes" a post attracts from viewers, but not the account owner There will be more "ephemeral" ways to
share content in messages - meaning there will not be a permanent record of themA WhatsApp secure payment service trialled in India is to be
rolled out to other countries later this year
The Facebook app is being redesigned to make community groups central to the newsfeed - and the distinctive blue branding is going
The redesign is rolling out in the US and then more widely straight away.Instagram posts will no longer have to start with a photo or a
video, it will be possible to share content using just text, stickers or drawings thanks to a new "create" camera mode.Image
copyrightfacebookImage caption
WhatsApp's payment service
"The future is private," Mr Zuckerberg said -
adding, in a nod to the tech giant's stream of privacy scandals: "I know we don't have the strongest reputation on privacy right now, to put
it lightly".He said Facebook was focused on looking at ways to encode privacy across the firm's entire infrastructure."It's not going to
happen overnight and to be clear we don't have all the answers," he said.He has previously said that he believes that people will want to
talk privately in small groups and communities in the future.However he will have to convince the public that Facebook is the place to do
this, some commentators noted."The big question is how it will perform in a regulated social media world in 2019 and beyond," said social
media consultant Matt Navarra
"My verdict: it will go the distance and bounce back, but its reputation will remain in tatters for years to come."Analysis: Dave Lee,
TheIndianSubcontinent North America technology reporterPrivate private private - that's the future of Facebook, as Mark Zuckerberg has said
before, but offered more details on here
The design changes are the biggest refresh in around five years
It puts greater emphasis on groups and private interactions, encrypted messages that Facebook itself won't be able to access
And, here's the big news it will no longer be blue
The desktop apps show Zuckerberg has things like Apple's iMessage in his sights
But Facebook needs to prove this is more than just a paint job if it's to get out of its current troubles
Mark Zuckerberg made a brief mention about the company not having a good reputation on privacy right now - almost smirking as he said it
The company is working to regain trust, he insists
At the same time it must show it continues to innovate even with all its bigger distractions
That's perhaps the bigger risk to Facebook here: while it's fixing its problems, competitors are working hard to gain ground
Secret Crush Other announcements included a new feature called Secret Crush, part of Facebook Dating, which will let Facebook members in
some countries tag up to nine of their friends to whom they are attracted.If the recipient of the crush is also using the feature and
nominates them as well, then both parties will receive a message to say they have matched.Facebook Dating will roll out in 14 new countries
including the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore
It is not currently available in Europe or the US.Virtual RealityMedia playback is unsupported on your deviceMedia captionWATCH: Dave Lee
tries out the new Oculus QuestThe firm also revealed the launch date for its new stand-alone, wireless VR headset, Oculus Quest - which does
not require a connection to a PC, smartphone or games console.Mark Zuckerberg announced that everyone attending the conference would be
given one as a gift.It will go on general sale on 21 May."Facebook remains deeply committed to its vision for VR as the next computing
platform despite a slow start," commented analyst Geoff Blaber from CCS Insight."New Oculus products will further refine the VR experience
but there remains a disconnect between Facebook's vision and the reality which is dominated by gaming rather than social interaction."
