Meta Brings Back Facebook’s Classic Poke With Emojis, Counts, And Streaks

Remember the days when Facebook was all about blue walls, FarmVille requests, and vague status updates? Back then, the “poke” was a cultural phenomenon – a digital nudge that could mean anything from playful to flirty, or just plain awkward. Now, in a move that blends nostalgia with modern social trends, Meta is officially reviving the poke.

According to Meta’s latest announcement on Instagram, pokes are back in the spotlight. The feature is being made more visible on user profiles, and there’s even a dedicated page – facebook.com/pokes – where friends can keep track of all their poke history. But this time, there’s a twist: Meta is testing a streak-style mechanic. Different emojis now appear depending on how many pokes you’ve exchanged, making it feel a bit like Snapchat’s famous streaks.

For those who missed the early days of Facebook, poking was one of the first ways users interacted on the platform. It didn’t do much beyond sending a notification, but it quickly became part of Facebook’s quirky identity. Over the years, however, the poke was quietly buried under a mountain of new features and eventually faded into obscurity.

Not entirely forgotten, though. Meta revealed last year that pokes were “having a moment,” after being made easier to find in the search bar. Usage reportedly spiked 13-fold, giving the company a reason to lean harder into nostalgia.

This revival also lines up with Mark Zuckerberg’s renewed focus on “OG Facebook” features – putting real connections with friends back at the center of the app, rather than endless algorithm-driven posts. And in many ways, nothing screams old-school Facebook more than the poke.

Whether this update will truly resonate with younger audiences is another question. With its playful mix of emojis and streak-style fun, the poke’s comeback could be just the thing to catch the attention of younger users – while giving longtime Facebook fans a warm dose of nostalgia.