Meta’s Big Throwback: Facebook Revives OG Facebook with New Friends Tab

Meta is making a major move to bring back the original social-first experience of Facebook. With the launch of the Facebook Friends Tab, the company aims to restore the personal connections that made the platform so popular in its early days. Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive officer of Meta, describes the feature as a throwback to OG Facebook, signaling a shift away from artificial intelligence-driven recommendations and toward a more personal, user-focused experience.

The Friends Tab is designed to show users only posts from their actual friends, rather than the algorithm-driven content that has taken over the main Facebook feed. This move is meant to reignite engagement by bringing back the core idea of social media—staying connected with people who actually matter to users.

More OG Facebook coming soon, Zuckerberg teased, hinting that additional changes might follow to further align the platform with its original purpose.

What Is the Friends Tab and How Does It Work?

The new Friends Tab is a dedicated space where users can see posts only from their friends, excluding the recommended content, ads, and viral trends that currently dominate the main feed. According to Meta, this section will feature:

• Stories and reels shared by friends

• Status updates and personal posts

• Birthday reminders and special events

• Friend requests and direct interactions

By focusing on friend-generated content, the Friends Tab aims to bring back a sense of real connection and authenticity, which many users feel has been lost over time.

Why Is Meta Making This Change Now?

For years, Facebook’s algorithm-driven approach has focused on increasing engagement by showing users content tailored to their interests, even if it does not come from their friends. While this has been effective in keeping users scrolling, it has also made Facebook feel less personal and more like an entertainment platform than a true social network.

A lot of people use Facebook every day, Zuckerberg said, but there are a lot of opportunities to make the app more culturally influential than it is today.

This statement, made during Meta’s fourth-quarter earnings call, highlights Zuckerberg’s desire to make Facebook relevant beyond just passive content consumption. He believes that bringing back the experience of original Facebook—where people posted status updates and engaged directly with friends—can help Facebook remain a key player in the social media industry.

The Battle Between AI Recommendations and Human Connection

In recent years, social media platforms have relied heavily on artificial intelligence to suggest content based on user behavior. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok all use AI-driven algorithms to prioritize engagement over direct social interaction.

However, there is a growing concern that this approach reduces genuine human connection and turns social media into a passive experience rather than an interactive one.

With the Friends Tab, Meta is testing whether users prefer to see content from people they know rather than content selected by artificial intelligence. If successful, this change could spark a larger movement away from AI-curated feeds and back toward organic social networking.

How Will This Affect the Main Facebook Feed?

The Friends Tab does not replace the main Facebook feed, which will still prioritize content recommended by AI. Instead, it acts as an optional feature for users who want a more traditional social media experience.

• The main feed will still display a mix of posts from friends, suggested content, and advertisements

• The Friends Tab will be entirely dedicated to updates from real-life connections

• Users can choose to switch between the two depending on their preference

Currently, the Friends Tab is only available in the United States and Canada, with no official timeline for a global rollout.

Can This Move Help Facebook Compete With Other Social Platforms?

Facebook remains one of the most widely used social media platforms, but competition from Instagram, TikTok, and emerging apps has forced Meta to rethink its strategy. Younger audiences, in particular, have shifted toward short-form video content and entertainment-based social networking, leaving traditional Facebook behind.

By reintroducing the concept of OG Facebook, Zuckerberg hopes to bring back users who feel disconnected from today’s algorithm-driven platforms. If successful, this change could differentiate Facebook from its competitors by offering a more personal experience rather than focusing solely on entertainment.

What Could Come Next for OG Facebook?

Zuckerberg’s strong focus on bringing back the classic Facebook experience suggests that Meta might introduce additional features to further align with its original vision.

Potential upcoming changes could include:

• A simplified status update feature, allowing users to share text updates without algorithmic ranking

• More emphasis on direct messaging and friend-to-friend interactions

• Less focus on influencer content and viral trends

• A greater push for community-based interactions through Facebook Groups and Events

By reviving classic elements of early Facebook, Meta could create a more welcoming, community-driven environment that appeals to both longtime users and those looking for a break from the AI-dominated feeds of modern social media.

Is This a Game Changer for Facebook?

While the return of OG Facebook is an exciting move, it remains to be seen whether users will fully embrace the change. Some might appreciate the nostalgic, personal feel, while others might still prefer the engagement-driven experience that social media has become.

Will this OG Facebook revival be a massive success or just another experimental feature? The answer will depend on how users respond to this shift back toward real human connections in a digital world.

One thing is certain: Meta is listening to feedback and adapting to the evolving needs of social media users. Whether the Friends Tab marks the beginning of a larger transformation for Facebook or just a temporary experiment, it is clear that Zuckerberg is determined to keep Facebook relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Will Users Fully Embrace the OG Facebook Experience?

As Meta pushes forward with its vision of reviving the classic Facebook experience, the biggest question remains—will users truly embrace the change? While many longtime Facebook users may welcome a return to friend-focused interactions, younger audiences have grown accustomed to AI-driven content and short-form entertainment. If the Friends Tab succeeds, it could reshape the future of social media, proving that people still value authentic connections over algorithmic feeds. However, if engagement remains low, it may signal that Facebook’s golden era of personal social networking has already passed.