Meta Revives "OG Facebook" with New Friends Tab Focused on Personal Connections and Real Social Interaction

In an effort to reconnect users to Facebook's original purpose, Meta has launched a new 'Friends' tab on the platform, intending to reestablish direct social interaction across personal networks. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the feature, which is already available in the United States and Canada, as the first of numerous "OG Facebook" experiences planned this year. 

The 'Friends' tab is a separate feed that displays content exclusively from users' Facebook friends. It replaces the previous section, which focused primarily on friend requests and "People You May Know" suggestions. Users can now view updates in one place, including status posts, Stories, Reels, birthday reminders, and friend requests. Unlike Facebook's main feed, which is controlled by AI algorithms that promote viral content and influencer postings, the Friends tab provides a more streamlined, personalized experience. 

Facebook's trend toward algorithm-driven content and entertainment-centric services has sparked criticism from long-time users who miss out on personal updates from their circles. The drop in participation from Generation Z, many of whom see Facebook as outdated, has also forced Meta to reconsider its strategy. 

While a similar "friends" feed was released in 2022, it received little prominence within the app. However, the new Friends option is more accessible and may be pinned to the main navigation bar via Settings. Whether this nostalgic approach will entice younger users remains to be seen, but Meta is obviously attempting to return to its roots.

This article is based on information from The Tech Portal