'Cultural Relevance Lost': The Worrying Problem that continues to trouble Facebook
Internal emails from Meta executives have revealed growing concerns over Facebook's declining cultural relevance, highlighting the company's struggle to keep the platform engaging amid shifting social media trends. According to a report by TechCrunch, the revelations, disclosed during Meta's ongoing antitrust trial, show that CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his team have been grappling with ways to modernise Facebook's user experience.
The decline of Facebook's 'Friends' model
One of the key concerns raised in the emails is Facebook's reliance on its traditional 'Friends' model, which executives now consider outdated. Unlike platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X, which prioritise 'Following' over direct friend connections, Facebook's structure has remained largely unchanged. Zuckerberg acknowledged that 'friending feels out of vogue', citing stale friend networks and the friction of sending friend requests as barriers to engagement.
The idea of deleting users' friend lists
In an effort to restore Facebook's relevance, Zuckerberg even floated the idea of deleting users' friend lists entirely and allowing them to start fresh—a proposal that was ultimately dismissed due to its potential risks. Instead, Meta has introduced a revamped Friends tab, aiming to centralise friend interactions and make connections more meaningful.
A push for 'OG Facebook'
During Meta's Q4 earnings call in January, Zuckerberg outlined his vision to bring back 'OG Facebook', focusing on features that once made the platform a cultural powerhouse. The company hopes that refining its approach to social connections will help reverse the decline in engagement and restore Facebook's standing in the competitive social media landscape.
Despite these efforts, Meta continues to face challenges in adapting Facebook to modern user preferences.
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