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Photo = Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Seoul, September 29 – Kakao announced that it will roll back its controversial overhaul of the “Friends” tab on KakaoTalk, restoring it to the original alphabetical contact list format. The company stated that user posts will instead be offered under a separate “Updates” menu, with the changes scheduled for implementation in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending development timelines.
The adjustment comes after Kakao introduced the largest update since KakaoTalk’s launch 15 years ago, in a bid to transform the messenger into an AI-powered “super app” combining social community features with artificial intelligence. However, the changes faced immediate backlash from users, particularly over privacy concerns.
Kakao CEO Shin Shin-ah highlighted during the company’s Q2 earnings call:
“Approximately 13.4 million users update their profiles monthly to share moments of their daily lives, proving clear user demand. Our goal was to evolve the ‘Friends’ tab into a content space that people visit frequently without a special reason.”
The most contentious change involved the first screen of the app, the Friends tab. Previously a simple list displaying names, profiles, and status messages, it was redesigned to function like a timeline feed, automatically exposing profile and background photo updates. Users argued that this undermined KakaoTalk’s hallmark simplicity and forced unwanted exposure of personal information.
Unlike Instagram or Facebook, which allow selective connections and user-controlled feed exposure, KakaoTalk automatically adds contacts linked to a phone number, merging professional and personal relationships into a single space. As a result, the feed-style exposure led to complaints of involuntary information sharing and privacy intrusion.
Historically, Kakao separated its services: KakaoTalk for messaging and KakaoStory for social networking, while global rivals integrated messaging into their platforms (Instagram Direct, Facebook Messenger). By merging these functions—introducing a grid-style feed and a short-form video tab—Kakao blurred the distinction, disrupting the familiar user experience.
Despite the controversy, Kakao emphasized that it has continuously expanded features for non-verbal interaction, such as enhanced profile viewing, “Fung” services, and memorial profile reactions. The company explained that the latest changes reflect efforts to improve user comfort in communication, relationships, and daily sharing.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
