"Bring It Back, When Will It Happen?" Users Demand... KakaoTalk Friends Tab to Return Next Month, Update Planned

List View as Default...
Grid Feed Available as an Option

Kakao will restore the main screen of the KakaoTalk Friends tab to its previous version next month.

According to the IT industry on November 23, Kakao plans to update KakaoTalk in December by reverting to the previous Friends list layout. This comes about three months after the company unveiled the grid-style feed Friends tab at its annual conference, If Kakao, on September 23.

Some had predicted that the Friends tab would be restored within this month, but it appears that the update has been scheduled for December based on the need to further improve certain features and the prioritization of other planned updates. However, the specific date for the restoration of the Friends tab has not yet been determined.

The key aspect of this update is that the grid-style feed Friends tab will become an optional feature in KakaoTalk. Users will be able to choose the previous Friends tab layout if they wish to revert to the old version, or continue using the current Friends tab as it is.

Previously, Kakao faced criticism from users after unveiling the grid-style feed Friends tab through If Kakao. The main response was that turning the Friends tab into a feed similar to Instagram or other social networking services (SNS) increased user fatigue for those who primarily used KakaoTalk as a messenger. KakaoTalk users flooded the company with complaints, demands for a rollback, and a wave of "one-star reviews."

In response, on September 29, Kakao announced that it would restore the previous Friends list as the main screen of the Friends tab within the fourth quarter. At the time, this was seen as a move prompted by concerns that the company's stock price had fallen below 60,000 won after the update, and that significant losses would be inevitable if users began to leave the platform in large numbers.

Shin Seongah, CEO of Kakao, stated during the third quarter earnings conference call held on November 7, "Kakao will continue to improve its services, including the scheduled Friends tab update in the fourth quarter, by reflecting user feedback."