Facebook on Thursday began rolling out a new design to its more than 350 million users, with various tweaks to encourage people to use the popular social network in new ways.

Among the changes: the company has moved the search box, which allows people to search for their friends and various content they have posted, to a more prominent location on the left of the screen, according to people who have seen the new design.

Facebook has also exposed the list of a user’s friends who are currently viewing the site, which was previously accessible by clicking on a lower-right hand menu, to the left side of the screen and made it accessible without opening another window. The result is that people can instantly see which of their friends are online and can begin chatting with them right away.

A Facebook spokeswoman says that members will be rolled over to the new design gradually throughout the night.

Facebook has been testing various changes for months as it seeks to adapt to new ways people are using the social network. For example, new “gaming” and “applications” shortcuts on the left of the screen take people to galleries where they can find popular software, such as games, to install and play with their friends. In the past year, gaming has surged on Facebook.

Many changes are subtle and the look and feel of the site remains the same. But every redesign that the six-year-old company has made has provoked fierce reaction from its users.

The new design doesn’t appear to have altered the layout of the ads on the site, which still remain on the right side of the screen.

Facebook is expected to discuss the design at an event for reporters Thursday evening.

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