Looks like the 2010s are back. Facebook is looking to reintroduce its iconic 'poke' feature with a series of updates. Facebook, known for its constant evolution, has recently revitalised the poking experience, aiming to reignite the playful engagement it once fostered.
Announced on Tuesday, Facebook unveiled enhancements to the poking feature, including improved suggestions for potential recipients and streamlined accessibility to the poking page through search.
Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg took to Threads to share his excitement about the new feature. Here's what he posted:
Zuckerberg even went to the extent of saying this:
Poking At Popularity
The impact of these modifications has been remarkable, with Facebook reporting a staggering 13-fold increase in poking activity over the past month alone. Surprisingly, the resurgence of poking isn't confined to seasoned users; rather, it's gaining traction among younger demographics. More than half of the recent pokes originate from users aged 18 to 29, indicating a fresh embrace of the feature among the platform's youthful cohort.
While poking may seem like a relic of Facebook's inception in 2004, it's enjoying a revival on the platform's 20th anniversary. Initially tucked away in the navigation after waning in popularity, poking has been rejuvenated, positioned as a simple yet meaningful gesture to reconnect with friends. Despite its longstanding presence, Facebook has never provided a definitive explanation for poking, leaving it open to users' interpretations. Some have wielded it as a playful means of flirtation, while others have used it as a casual greeting.
How To Poke On Facebook
To make things clear, Poke never left Facebook. Over time and a myriad of updates, the feature got buried deep inside the platform's settings.
A quick way to poke someone would be to look up 'Poke' on the search bar, or you can click here to try and poke your pal.