While Facebook has faced significant criticism in recent years, a new feature could potentially reignite interest among former users and attract new ones.
In January, Mark Zuckerberg discussed Facebook’s future, announcing a “return to original Facebook.” This statement was intended to reassure investors, as the social network has struggled to attract new users. More recently, on March 27, Meta announced a more tangible update to Facebook. This update would allow the platform to revert back to its original functionality, providing a simpler way to view friends’ statuses.
A New “Friends” Tab Emerges
Initially available to Facebook users in the United States and Canada, the new “Friends” tab will solely display posts from a user’s friends. This feature complements the Stories introduced in 2017 and the more recent Reels. The tab will also retain features such as birthdays and friend requests, which were common in earlier versions. Although these features are not groundbreaking, Meta explains that the update aims to reconnect with Facebook’s original purpose.
Updates Aimed at Capturing Gen Z’s Attention
With the rise of new social networks like Instagram and TikTok, which gained a billion users in just five years, Facebook has struggled to draw in new users. As Gen Z tends to prefer these newer platforms, they present a clear opportunity for the future of the social network. Mark Zuckerberg is aiming to attract this demographic to Facebook and is planning new updates by 2025. While these updates have not been publicly disclosed yet, Zuckerberg has hinted that they will align more closely with the interests of the 15-30 age group, unlike recent updates focused on the “Local” and “Explore” tabs.
Potential Shift Away from Algorithmic Recommendations?
While Facebook has planned to increase content recommendations in 2024, following Instagram’s model from the previous year, the use of algorithmic recommendations has continued to grow on the platform. With Zuckerberg’s recent talk of a return to “Facebook OG” and an easing of moderation announced earlier this year, similar to community-driven ratings on X (formerly Twitter), could this signal a move away from algorithms? Joel Kaplan, head of moderation at Facebook, stated that “a number of restrictions on topics such as immigration, gender identity, and gender, which are frequently at the center of political debates,” would be lifted. The introduction of the new “Friends” tab may be the first indication of these changes.
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Samantha Klein is a seasoned tech journalist with a sharp focus on Apple and mobile ecosystems. With over a decade of experience, she brings insightful commentary and deep technical understanding to the fast-evolving world of consumer technology.