Facebook Revives the Poke: Classic Feature Makes a Comeback with New Button and Poke Count

Back in the early days of Facebook — when timelines were still called “walls” and status updates were short and awkward — the poke was one of the most popular features. It was a digital nudge, a playful tap that could mean anything or nothing at all.

Now, in 2025, Meta is officially reviving the poke, giving it a modern twist. According to a post Meta shared on Instagram, pokes are becoming more visible within the Facebook app.

Users will now see a new poke button directly on profiles and can also track their poking history on a dedicated page: facebook.com/pokes.

A Modern Spin: Emojis and Streak-Style Pokes

Meta isn’t just bringing back the old feature — it’s reinventing it for a younger audience. In a very 2025 update, Facebook is testing streak-style mechanics, where users earn emojis based on how many pokes they exchange. This gives the feature a Snapchat-like vibe, tapping into the trend of streaks that younger users love.

For those who missed Facebook’s early years, pokes were one of the platform’s first ways to interact. Alongside writing on someone’s wall or leaving a comment, a poke was a lighthearted gesture. It had no real purpose, but it quickly became part of Facebook culture before fading away as new features dominated the app.

Meta’s Nostalgia Strategy

Interestingly, this isn’t the first attempt by Meta to revive pokes. In 2024, the company reported that the feature was “having a moment” after a 13-fold increase in usage when pokes were resurfaced in the search bar. Encouraged by that surge, Meta is now doubling down on nostalgia, hoping the poke can appeal not only to long-time users but also to Gen Z, who are heavily drawn to interactive streak-based features.

Zuckerberg’s “OG Facebook” Push

The poke revival also ties into Mark Zuckerberg’s broader vision to reintroduce “OG Facebook features.” Earlier this year, he emphasized that he wanted to prioritize showing users more content from their real friends, instead of endless algorithm-driven feeds. Nothing embodies old-school Facebook more than the poke, making it a symbolic move in Meta’s attempt to reconnect with its roots.

Winning Back Younger Users

Meta has been grappling with how to make Facebook appealing to younger demographics, many of whom view it as the platform their parents use. By giving the poke a fun, gamified update with streaks and emojis, Meta may just succeed in drawing back attention from Gen Z and young millennials.

The move blends nostalgia with modern social media mechanics, aiming to make Facebook feel fresh while honoring its past.

Conclusion

Facebook’s decision to revive the poke feature is more than just a playful throwback — it’s part of Meta’s larger strategy to modernize its social network and win over younger users. With the addition of streak-style mechanics, emojis, and a dedicated poke page, the company is positioning the poke as a quirky, interactive tool that bridges Facebook’s history with today’s digital culture.

As Zuckerberg continues his push to bring back original Facebook features, the return of the poke might prove to be a clever way to reconnect with old users while giving new ones something fun to talk about. After all, in the age of short attention spans and endless scrolling, sometimes a simple nudge is all it takes to spark engagement.