The is isn't on Facebook

A couple weeks back, I reported that the much-hated "is" on Facebook's status line was going to disappear so awkward sentences like "Keith is loving Burrito Boyz" could be replaced by the much more sensible "Keith loves Burrito Boyz."

Problem is the is still was. But now it's not. Thanks to Rich Bloom for pointing out the change that will shake the social graph to its core.


mcarthur (at) veritascanada.com

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Is was and has been on Facebook

Much excitement in the blogosphere today about news that Facebook is eliminating the requirement that users build their status updates around the word "is."

Effective tonight, status entries such as Keith McArthur is blogging, Keith McArthur is tired and Keith McArthur is writing a press release can be replaced with gems like Keith McArthur blogs, Keith McArthur dreams of sleep and Keith McArthur shall save the world one press release at a time.

As Betsy Schiffman at Wired points out, some Facebookers chose to ignore the structure, leading to status entries such as Betsy is loves to dance.

Virtual champagne will no doubt flow tonight in Facebook groups like I die a little bit inside when I see grammatically incorrect status updates (411 members) and Facebook Petitition to Remove the World "IS" from the Status Updater (995 members).

Update: The is is still there. Betshy Schiffman reports that a note went out to developers last Monday saying it would disappear, but it (is) stubburnly refuses to die.