Facebook users are rediscovering a relic of the platform’s early days: the poke.
The feature, which allows users to virtually nudge a friend, has seen a 13-fold increase in activity over the past month, with a surprising trend – more than half of these pokes are coming from users between 18 and 29 years old.
Nostalgia and Simplicity in Modern Social Media
Poking was introduced in 2004, serving as a simple way to say “hi” before likes and reactions became popular. The feature’s obscurity grew over time, but recent updates by Facebook have made it easier to find. Now, users can access the poking feature through search and directly from a friend’s profile.
The resurgence has evoked nostalgia among longtime users. Some, like 26-year-old Brooklin Dugey, find the interaction lighthearted and use it to maintain connections with close friends and family.
The trend has also baffled some, wondering how Gen Z discovered such an old feature. However, it’s important to remember that many older Gen Z users were on Facebook during poking’s initial popularity in their early teens.
Karan Thakkar, 27, recalls poke wars with friends back in high school. For him, poking was a low-effort way to acknowledge someone without needing a full conversation.
He believes younger users might be enjoying poking as a new discovery, especially with the current social media landscape dominated by content creation and shopping.
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The Resurgence of Facebook’s Poke
Simona Stamatovska, 32, highlights a key difference between poking and other social media interactions. Unlike likes or shares, the poke’s playful nudge creates a more lighthearted and personal connection.
While some compare poking to other low-key interactions, Stamatovska sees it as the “OG silent move,” bringing a smile with its silliness and affection. Whether a wave of nostalgia or a new discovery, Facebook poking seems to be finding a niche among a new generation of users.
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