Facebook's 'Pokes' Revival: Leveraging Nostalgia & Irony in Social Media

Published on 09/05/2025 Trend Spotting / Early Adopter Signals

Facebook's attempt to revive 'pokes' represents a strategic move (or misstep) in platform engagement. While 'pokes' themselves are an old feature, the discussion around their revival taps into nostalgia, irony, and the broader conversation about how social media platforms evolve. Brands can leverage this moment by creating content that playfully references digital nostalgia, or by launching marketing campaigns that ironically 'poke' at competitors or outdated trends. This could be a unique opportunity for brands to engage with an audience that appreciates self-aware humor and cultural commentary on tech trends, using the 'make [X] happen again' meme format.