Facebook's chat feature (Creative Commons)

Facebook changed their network's chat noise to an annoying “bum” from the ever so exciting “pop” in November.

Lately, Facebook has been changing the most random parts of the social network site, from making the Home Feed’s status updates font incredibly small to the chat noise.

The only recently proposed change that has merit is Facebook's “Messages That Matter” initiative that allows users to communicate in a variety of ways depending on the receiver's preference. The communication methods will include e-mail, text, and chat, and gives the receiver more control.

The alterations to font and chat noise are different matter altogether. The font does not need to be such a small size. Further, changes in the chat noise are likely unpopular, as user's have indicated the sounds are unpopular through a low number of “likes” chat noise has on Facebook. This may also suggest, with the website’s growing popularity, that users have become sick of the noise. Moreover, a general Google search of “Facebook Chat Noise” shows results marked by disapproval from users. 

The new annoying “bum” noise the network uses sounds like a hammer hitting something in a video game. I now cringe when people talk with me on Facebook, finding the sound generally annoying like a substantial number of users. Especially for those who routinely have a series of chat pop ups immediately upon signing on, the constant, “bum, bum, bum” is guaranteed to give them a headache fast.

If people are unhappy with the chat noise, they ought to let Facebook know in the hope that the social networking giant will allow customized chat noises. The selection of chat noises does not need to be extensive but would allow the Facebook user to also distinguish who is talking with them.

For example, “I have just heard a camera flash. My brother Brandt is talking with me!” There could be whistles, zips, booms, roars, laughs, and various sounds that could allow Facebook users to further customize their profile.

Short ring tones like, “Da Da Da Da Da Daaaaa, CHARGE!” could also be factored in.

Though I have not signed into my Myspace profile in a while, probably since Freshmen year of high school, I do miss the ability to customize like I was able to on that platform. I could change the color of the background of my profile, use emoticons, and add music. I am not advocating for a complete customization of Facebook, I personally love the blue and white layout, but this chat noise customization would be a fun one for users.

Some people may argue the creative noises will be distracting, but they will be no more out of the ordinary than cell phone ring tones. Friends can call to Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” and they can also chat to a thunderstorm.

The conversation during the chat does not necessarily have to be filled with whistles and bombs but I personally would not mind a "Boing!" after a person says something because sometimes I get distracted perusing through others’ profiles and the quiet “Message from ****!” in the left corner might get lost.

It will be interesting what Facebook will change in the future. I just hope that the “bum” will change to a “BOOM” or something exciting soon.

Reach Evelina Weary here.