Facebook is turning profile pictures into 7 second GIFs

Things on Facebook are about to get more interesting. Yesterday, via an official blogpost, the social media giant unveiled 3 mobile-friendly features to help make your experience more interesting.

Facebook is now introducing 7 second GIFs as an alternate to the typical profile pictures, it is also giving you improved profile controls and the mobile app interface has also been revamped. These features will first be available to the iPhone users in California and UK. No need to fret though, these features will be rolled out to the rest of the users in due time. The main reason for introducing these features is to give you “more opportunities to express who you are and control the content showcased on your profile”.

According to Facebook, people are now posting more videos than ever before and this was a key factor in introducing moving profile pictures – Harry Potter fans rejoice! The 7 second GIF will make your profile more lively and also allow you to be more creative . You will be able to make a short, looping video (like a Vine) which will play for anyone who visits your profile page. However, this does not mean the old profile pictures have gone obsolete. As their blogpost suggests, Facebook is changing the concept we have of profile pictures:

“We’re not ignoring profile pictures either. As part of that effort, we’ve started to roll out the ability to set a temporary version of your profile picture that reverts back to your previous profile picture at a specified time. Want to support your team in the week leading up to the big game, commemorate a special milestone like a birthday or vacation or show off a great #tbt picture? Now you can create a temporary profile picture specifically for those moments and events. It can be a visual status update to let your friends know what’s going on in your life today, or it can be your statement of solidarity for a cause you feel strongly about.”

The mobile app interface has also been revamped that improves your profile layout and presents your information to your friends in a more visually engaging way. The profile picture thumbnail has been moved all the way to the middle and its size has been also made bigger. They’ve also introduced a new space on your profile page where you can share stuff.

Following the on-going privacy hoax, people posting long statuses barring Facebook from using their private information, the social media giant has introduced improved profile controls. The new update comes with a customizeable space on the top of your profile. In this space you can add whatever personal information you want to share with your friends. You can even add upto 5 pictures. This space will be visible to whoever visits your profile, but you have full control over what information you want to share.