Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg once came up with a shocking idea to make people use Facebook more. Back in 2022, he thought about removing every user’s friend list and asking them to rebuild it from scratch.
The Idea Came From an Internal Email Leak
According to a report by The Verge, this strange plan was revealed through internal emails shown during a case between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Zuckerberg’s idea was to reset everyone’s friend list once a year, possibly as a new way to boost engagement.
Why Zuckerberg Thought Facebook Needed a Shake-Up
Zuckerberg was worried that Facebook’s cultural value was fading. While platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp were still popular, he believed Facebook was losing its charm, especially among younger users.
To fix this, he suggested trying this “friend list reset” feature in smaller countries first, so the risks would be lower.
Not Everyone at Meta Agreed with the Plan
Tom Alison, one of the top Facebook executives, was not in favor of the idea. He responded by saying it might not be practical and could annoy users instead of helping.
Zuckerberg Also Questioned the ‘Follow’ System
Along with this bold idea, Zuckerberg was also exploring changes to how followers and profiles worked. He asked his team if changing the way people follow each other could make Facebook more exciting again.
Zuckerberg Later Denied Implementing the Plan
When a lawyer from the FTC recently questioned him about the idea, Zuckerberg responded, “As far as I remember, we never did that.” So while the idea was discussed, it was never actually launched.
Facebook is Still Being Redesigned Today
Meta is currently trying to revamp how people use Facebook. One recent update introduced a new “Friends” tab, where users only see posts from actual friends — not content picked by algorithms.
Earlier this year, Zuckerberg mentioned that Meta’s goal in 2025 is to bring back the old Facebook feeling, focusing more on real friends and personal connections.
