by Bob Branco
Approximately three months ago, Facebook decided to eliminate their mobile site from desktop computers. The mobile site was very navigable and accessible for blind people. For 15 consecutive years, I had no problem doing all the things I wanted to do on that site. Now, the site is gone, and many blind people are forced to use a complicated Facebook platform. For those with iPhones, there are problems with Facebook as well. As a result of Facebook’s unpopular decision, I, and many other blind people, have to learn it all over again.
I heard several explanations as to why Facebook removed their mobile site, but no matter what the explanations are, the blind have been penalized. The entire Facebook structure has changed dramatically, making the process extremely tedious and frustrating. While I relearn Facebook, I will try to keep it simple. There are only several aspects that I want to know about right now. I don’t do Marketplace. I don’t do video, and I don’t do other more sophisticated Facebook activities. With that said, many other blind people use those features, so I want to be fair to everyone and not just think of myself. While I am trying to be hopeful, it doesn’t lessen the problems that this decision caused. My entire Facebook environment has been disrupted, and something needs to be done about it. Advocates for the blind are working very hard to include us in the sighted world, but Facebook has done its best to disrupt that process. I heard that one of the consumer organizations of the blind is having conversations with Facebook, hoping to reach a fair solution to this problem.
I asked my technical support specialist if he thinks we should talk to Facebook about reconsidering their decision to get rid of the blind-friendly mobile site. I will clean up my tech support person’s response. He told me that Facebook doesn’t give a poop. If that’s true, then it might be pointless for consumer organizations of the blind to negotiate with Facebook. However, if Facebook cares about the effect this is having on the blind, and is willing to listen, then I support every effort that the consumer organizations are making in order for Facebook to understand and correct this mistake.
Facebook’s removal of their mobile site not only affects desktop computers, but iPhones as well. There are many accessibility issues with the app on phones. For example, adding posts and performing other Facebook tasks on iPhones is a nightmare. Facebook has a lot to be desired for accessibility.
A friend of mine signed a petition which was created to convince Facebook to reconsider. If the issue has to do with advertisements on the site, I believe blind people wouldn’t mind the advertisements as long as we are able to navigate the site effectively without being bombarded with them.
This is really inexcusable for a large company like Facebook. I don't know what kind of noise is going to get through the static, and I hope they don’t have to be brought to court. If negotiations are truly going on between Facebook and the blind consumer organization, I hope they reach a solution very soon. As a last resort, I am willing to accept the main Facebook site as long as it is much improved. Nevertheless, I want Facebook to reconsider its decision to remove the mobile site. We had no problem navigating it before. Though many blind and sighted people use Facebook for trivial reasons, many of us use it professionally. This opportunity should never have been taken away from the blind.