Facebook Brings Back the Classic ‘Poke’ Feature to Attract Young Users

Staff Reporter | PNN

One of Facebook’s most talked-about early features was the “Poke,” which allowed users to virtually nudge each other to grab attention. After nearly disappearing for a long time, this feature is becoming popular again among younger users. As a result, Meta is now bringing it back as a central part of the Facebook experience.

Users can now poke friends directly from their profile pages. The recipient will receive a notification alerting them. Additionally, by visiting the facebook.com/pokes page, users can see who has poked them, the total number of pokes exchanged with friends, and even choose to ignore received pokes.

The feature now includes a “Poke Count”—as the number of pokes with a friend increases, a special icon will appear next to their name, such as a fire symbol or a hundred-mark icon. Meta hopes this will appeal to younger users who are already accustomed to gamification elements on apps like Snapchat and TikTok.

Facebook has previously tried several times to make the poke feature more accessible. In March 2024, after changes to the search feature, the company observed a sudden 13-fold increase in poke usage. With the addition of a direct profile-based button, Meta expects usage to rise even further.

However, Facebook has never explained the exact purpose of poking. For some, it’s just fun; for others, a way to flirt or annoy. Its meaning depends entirely on the user.

Analysts note that Meta has taken several initiatives to retain younger users. Although the college-based Facebook Campus project ended in 2022, the company has recently introduced multiple redesigns and steps targeting Generation Z. Reviving the poke feature in a new way is part of that effort.