The Facebook Friend Icon is Redesigned to Put the Woman First
Meghan Young — July 8, 2015 — Social Good
For years the Facebook Friend Icon featured the silhouette of a man in front of a woman. But in a recent subtle redesign, that is no longer the case. The social media platform now puts the woman in the lead, which is indicative of the times we are currently in. After all, Hillary Clinton has a great shot at becoming the first female President of the United States.
As simple a change as the Facebook Friend Icon is, it sends a powerful message that many other social networks may soon want to follow. Facebook design manager Caitlin Winner comments, "As a woman, educated at a women’s college, it was hard not to read into the symbolism of the current icon; the woman was quite literally in the shadow of the man, she was not in a position to lean in."
As simple a change as the Facebook Friend Icon is, it sends a powerful message that many other social networks may soon want to follow. Facebook design manager Caitlin Winner comments, "As a woman, educated at a women’s college, it was hard not to read into the symbolism of the current icon; the woman was quite literally in the shadow of the man, she was not in a position to lean in."
Trend Themes
1. Gender Equality in Design - The redesign of the Facebook Friend Icon highlights the growing trend of prioritizing gender equality in design.
2. Feminist Branding - More brands may adopt feminist branding strategies, like redesigning their logos to promote gender equality.
3. Inclusivity in Social Media - The Facebook redesign sets the stage for inclusivity in social media, encouraging other platforms to prioritize diverse representation.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - The Facebook Friend Icon redesign presents an opportunity for other social media platforms to reconsider their visual representation and promote inclusivity.
2. Design - The gender equality focus in design, exemplified by the Facebook Friend Icon redesign, offers opportunities for innovative design solutions in various industries.
3. Branding - Feminist branding, as demonstrated by the Facebook Friend Icon redesign, has the potential to reshape brand identities to align with progressive values.
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