Facebook reintroduces the ‘poke’ feature, gaining popularity among Generation Z, while a new study from the Open University reveals women and girls face increased abuse on platforms like Twitter, highlighting the urgent need for effective online safety measures.
Facebook, the social media giant, has reintroduced the “poke” feature, first launched in 2004, sparking enthusiasm particularly among Generation Z users. The feature, initially a hallmark of Facebook’s user interaction but faded into obscurity around 2014, has witnessed a resurgence with a 1,300% increase in use, half of which is attributed to users between the ages of 18 and 29. This revival, facilitated by Meta, Facebook’s parent company enhancing the feature’s visibility, aligns with the platform’s appeal to younger audiences. Despite its ambiguous original purpose, as noted by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, the poke button’s return is part of a broader engagement strategy, especially notable given Facebook’s standing as the fourth most popular social media site among Gen Z in 2023.
In contrast, a new study from the Open University sheds light on the darker aspects of social media, revealing that women and girls are significantly more susceptible to abuse and threats on platforms like Twitter, compared to others. Although Facebook was noted for more frequent reports of misogyny, Twitter has emerged as the primary arena for harmful interactions, especially through text- and image-based threats. Young women under the age of 25 are particularly vulnerable, with an alarming proportion of online violence reported by this demographic in England. Despite attempts to report these incidents, the majority of women expressed dissatisfaction with the platforms’ responses.
Moreover, the research highlights a concerning trend where online harassment, especially prevalent on platforms such as Snapchat, often transitions into real-world bullying. This issue has direct implications on the daily lives of women, affecting areas including school attendance. Both social media companies and law enforcement face criticism for their perceived inadequate handling of these incidents, despite governmental pledges to address violence against women and girls through legislative measures like the Online Safety Act.
