Mark Zuckerberg decides content from your actual friends is an 'OG' Facebook feature

Engadget - Mar 27th, 2025
Open on Engadget

Meta is launching a revamped 'Friends' section on Facebook, aiming to address user frustration over the platform's transformation into a 'discovery engine' filled with recommended content. This update will dedicate a feed to show posts, Stories, Reels, and suggestions solely related to Facebook friends. This move marks the first of several planned efforts to reintroduce original Facebook features, as the company seeks to enhance the social aspect of the platform and counter competition from TikTok.

The change underscores a strategic shift by Meta to rekindle nostalgia and user satisfaction with Facebook's 'OG' features. CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the initiative's potential to revive the joyful experiences that were once synonymous with Facebook. While it's unclear what other classic features might return, the effort signals a renewed focus on user connection and engagement, amid evolving social media landscapes and competitive pressures.

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RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a timely and generally accurate overview of Meta's recent strategic changes to Facebook, focusing on the introduction of a revamped 'Friends' section. It effectively highlights the company's goals and the potential impact on user experience, making it relevant to a broad audience.

However, the article's lack of direct sourcing and limited perspective representation slightly undermine its reliability and balance. While it communicates its message clearly and is highly readable, it could benefit from greater transparency and engagement with more diverse viewpoints.

Overall, the article succeeds in informing readers about important developments in the social media landscape but could enhance its impact and engagement by incorporating more critical analysis and interactive elements.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The article accurately reflects Meta's recent strategic shifts regarding Facebook's main feed, focusing on transforming it into a 'discovery engine' and the introduction of a revamped 'Friends' section. The claim that these changes aim to compete with TikTok aligns with industry trends and Meta's known objectives. However, the article does not provide direct quotes or primary sources to confirm these strategic intentions, which slightly undermines its precision.

The mention of Meta's past attempts to create friend-focused feeds and the specific features of the new 'Friends' tab are consistent with Meta's historical actions and technological capabilities. Yet, the lack of explicit source attribution for these claims means readers must take the information on trust, reducing verifiability.

Overall, while the article presents plausible and generally true information, the absence of direct sourcing or data makes it difficult to independently verify some of the claims, such as user dissatisfaction levels or the specific features included in the update.

7
Balance

The article primarily presents Meta's perspective on the changes to Facebook, focusing on the company's strategic goals and user experience improvements. This creates a narrative that is somewhat favorable to Meta, potentially downplaying any negative user feedback or competitive challenges faced by the company.

While the story mentions user frustration with seeing less content from friends, it does not delve deeply into these concerns or provide contrasting viewpoints from industry analysts or users themselves. The article could have been more balanced by including perspectives from Facebook users or social media experts about the effectiveness and reception of these changes.

The absence of critical viewpoints or external opinions means the article leans towards a single narrative, which limits its overall balance. Including diverse perspectives would enhance the story's depth and provide a more comprehensive view of the issue.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear language to convey the key points about Facebook's strategic changes. It effectively summarizes Meta's shift towards a 'discovery engine' and the introduction of a revamped 'Friends' section, making it easy for readers to understand the main developments.

The logical flow of the article helps readers follow the progression from the problem (user dissatisfaction with current feeds) to the proposed solution (the new 'Friends' section). The tone remains neutral and factual, avoiding sensationalism or overly technical jargon, which aids comprehension.

However, the inclusion of more detailed explanations or examples could further enhance clarity, particularly for readers less familiar with social media platform dynamics.

6
Source quality

The article does not explicitly cite any sources, such as Meta's official statements, press releases, or interviews with company representatives. This lack of attribution makes it challenging to assess the reliability and authority of the information presented.

Given the nature of the topic, one would expect references to primary sources like Meta's announcements or statements from key executives, such as Mark Zuckerberg. The absence of such sources raises questions about the article's foundation and the thoroughness of its reporting.

While the information appears credible based on known industry trends and past actions by Meta, the lack of cited sources diminishes the overall quality and reliability of the reporting.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency regarding its information sources and the basis for its claims. It does not disclose whether the information comes from official Meta communications, insider insights, or other channels.

There is no explanation of the methodology used to gather information or any acknowledgment of potential conflicts of interest. This absence of transparency leaves readers without a clear understanding of how the conclusions were reached or the potential biases that might influence the reporting.

Improved transparency, such as citing specific sources or providing context for the claims, would enhance readers' trust in the article's content and its impartiality.

Sources

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7l4kw-ZfKw
  2. https://dd80b675424c132b90b3-e48385e382d2e5d17821a5e1d8e4c86b.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/external/cand-223580-consolidatedcomplaintfeb212023.pdf
  3. https://about.fb.com/news/2023/09/you-can-now-have-multiple-personal-profiles-on-facebook/
  4. https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121616843.html
  5. https://about.fb.com/news/2025/03/bringing-magic-of-friends-back-to-facebook/