The “poke” is one of Facebook’s oldest and strangest features. Here is what it actually does and what people usually mean by it.
What a poke does, technically
Poking someone sends them a simple notification that says you poked them, with no message attached. There is no deeper function, it does not share any information, and it does not appear on either person’s timeline. It is essentially a way of saying “hey” without writing anything.
Where the poke feature came from
The poke was part of Facebook from its very early days in the mid-2000s, before likes, reactions or comments existed as ways to interact with someone without a full message. It became a lighthearted, sometimes flirtatious way to get someone’s attention.
What people use pokes for today
- A low-effort hello. Poking an old friend can be a way to reconnect without committing to a full message.
- Flirting. Among some users, poking still carries a light, playful, sometimes flirtatious meaning.
- An inside joke. Many friend groups use poke wars, repeatedly poking each other, purely for fun.
How to poke someone
On desktop, search for the person’s profile, click the three-dot menu, and select “Poke”. On mobile, poke is less prominently placed, but can usually be found via the same three-dot menu on their profile, if it is available in your version of the app.
Frequently asked questions
Does poking notify the other person?
Yes, they receive a notification that you poked them, and can poke back.
Can I see who poked me?
Yes, pokes appear in your notifications, and Facebook used to have a dedicated pokes page listing them, though its visibility has changed over the years as Facebook has updated its interface.