WebsiteCompass 11 The updated Friends tab isn’t an either/or proposition, and will coexist with more recent forms of content distribution. Within the updated Friends tab, you’ll see only posts recommended or shared by people in your network. Outside of this tab, content will keep circulating as it has been in recent years. Will This Experiment Work? Meta has undoubtedly done its research and believes the updated Friend tab will help restore the platform’s former glory. However, some in the technology industry are dubious, citing these factors: • Fewer people post on Facebook these days. If your friends are posting way less, your feed of dedicated friend content is going to be skimpy and lack the ability to encourage engagement. • Many people stopped sharing on Facebook because either it got boring, or it became divisive to share your opinions and get criticized for them. • The Friends-only content won’t be in a user’s main feed, and many people won’t bother to tap across from the main feed to the dedicated friends tab. Only time will tell if the updated Friends tab will significantly impact user behavior and help re-engage younger Facebook users. No matter what your age, it’s probably worth a few minutes to explore whether the updated Friends tab will improve your Facebook experience. What’s Behind the Change to the Friends Tab? Facebook, with 2 billion daily active users as of 2025, is trying to reclaim what made it special in the first place. Meta is trying to win back younger Facebook users who have drifted toward TikTok and Instagram, platforms known for their AI-driven recommendations, and is betting that some of these users still crave a space for real-life connections. By refocusing on personal connections and emphasizing updates from actual friends, the company is offering an alternative to the endless streams on TikTok and Instagram, rather than directly competing with them. The recently revamped Friends tab is part of that push. Previously, the tab was limited to showing friend requests and “People You May Know.” Now, it’s a one-stop place to catch up with friends’ activities without distractions. Meta hopes this feature will help boost engagement and remind users why they signed up for Facebook in the first place. It’s one of several features Meta plans to add to Facebook in 2025.
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