Almost all of us social media users can actually say that the first-ever social media account was made on Facebook. The platform’s popularity in the early 2000s was definitely unmatched. However, with an increase in the popularity of other social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Facebook faded into the background. Of Course, the lack of its popularity worried Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta. During the hearing of a case that the FTC presented back in 2022, it was revealed that the CEO was actually considering doubling down on Facebook friends as a strategy to increase its traffic again. This article brings you everything you need to know about why Mark Zuckerberg considered deleting all Facebook friends.
What Is The Lawsuit Against Meta All About?
FTC presented a lawsuit in the court of law against Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta back in 2022. According to the commission, Meta created a state of monopoly in the digital marketplace when it acquired Instagram and WhatsApp. It claimed that the acquisitions violated US competition laws. The agency now wants to break up Meta, and it wants to do so by spinning off one of its major apps. It wishes to unwind the said acquisitions, however, Meta says it does not hold any monopoly and is in a rapidly evolving and highly competitive digital marketplace.
Why Did Mark Zuckerberg Consider Deleting All Facebook Friends?
According to the evidence that was presented in the hearing today, it was revealed that Mark Zuckerberg considered wiping everyone’s graph in 2022. Wiping everyone’s graph refers to deleting everyone’s Facebook friends, which will require them to start all over again. This crazy idea, in the eyes of Mark Zuckerberg, was actually a strategy to cater to the declining significance of Facebook among the other apps. It basically meant forcing all the Facebook users to re-create their friend graphs and reconnect with their social networks as they rebuild it.
Why Wasn’t Mark Zuckerberg’s Idea Of Deleting Facebook Friends Implemented?
According to the reports, Mark Zuckerberg’s crazy idea of deleting Facebook friends to increase its traffic was never implemented. This was because other members of Meta, like the head of Facebook, Tom Alison, ended up pushing back on the idea. In the end, the strategy was abandoned. However, other evidence showcased that Mark Zuckerberg kept on coming up with different strategies to bring Facebook back to life. This also includes shifting Facebook’s friends-based model to a follower-based model, just like Instagram. However, like the idea of deleting followers, this idea also ultimately ended up being shelved.
Why Is Facebook Now Revamping The Friends Tab?
According to the latest updates, Facebook has decided to stick with the friends-based model only and retain its essence. However, the social media platform has started focusing on trying to return to the “OG Facebook.” It is doing so by revamping the Friends tab. The new revamped Friends tab features centralized friend requests as well as only friends’ content. The only friends’ content can include posts, reels, stories, and birthdays as well.
What Did Mark Zuckerberg Say In Meta’s Q4 2024 Earnings Call?
Mark Zuckerberg addressed the investors of Meta in its Q4 2024 earnings call, talking about their goals for the year ahead. During his address, he mentioned how there are a lot of opportunities to make Facebook a lot more culturally influential than it is currently. The Meta CEO said some of these opportunities will bring Facebook back to how it originally was.
