How to Poke Someone on Facebook – Guide

Both newbies and long-standing Facebook users are aware of the act of poking. If you haven’t grasped all it means to give someone a poke on Facebook, there is no need to worry, as you can learn quickly how to use, it. So, what is poke sent on FB? Essentially, a poke is a mini application on Facebook, which is available for every user. The feature allows you to send a single virtual notification to a contact. This is basically what it is meant to do on social media. Over time, the role of poking has widened and changed. Back in 2007, for example, poking was the trending thing, which was worth knowing. However, its popularity declined since then and by 2011, it went into hiding on the site. After many updates to improve its functionality, Facebook chose to put it into hiding in the process. You can still view the Facebook poke app, though.

 

In earlier days, Facebook’s poking feature was cute and popular. Its timid approach to initiating communication became a popular flirting feature or simple hello. Although they exist today, pokes are not as popular or straightforward, because they cannot be understood. The meaning of poke in Facebook has derailed over time and changed its meaning. Notice, however, that receiving a casual poke may be fine depending on who it comes from. For example, receiving one from your grandmother can be confusing. It can send mixed messages, which you may not make out quickly. If you are still confused about why people would poke you, here are some tips to help you get comfortable.

 

What Poke means on Facebook

Fundamentally, poking is the same as using a like button, but with ambiguity. This is a feature which makes it possible for users to show an interest in friends. It helps users evade the tedious process of crafting statements of introduction. You can, therefore, seek attention with minimal effort or find an excuse to flirt with your crush.

 

Today, people interpret the poke feature in many different ways. Facebook management admits that when they first introduced it, there was no clear intention or purpose. It was a fun feature without a specific person. It is, therefore, upon every user to initiate their own meanings and use them the way they need. While some people enjoy using the feature, others feel irritated when they are poked. Not everyone finds pokes sweet or impressive, there are people who see them as creepy, but this depends on one’s personality. If you have frequented Facebook in the recent past, you will notice that the fun of having a wordless interaction without the risk of engaging in political commentaries or other sensitive issues.

 

Old Feature

The poke is no longer a popular thing anymore. Its use declined consistently over time and is no longer a trendy thing to use lest you irritate someone you thought you would impress. It is now an outdated flirting method arguably. Today, DMs and direct messages have become the new way to gain the attention of your friends on Facebook.

 

How to Poke someone Using Facebook

To begin poking, you should first select the appropriate victim, check out their profile. Make a decision on whether the person you want to poke has an idea of what you want to do. Is the person expecting a message from you or knows what you need to pass across? Select the ‘—button, which is located near the Message button. Here, you will have the drop-down menu with several options, and poke is one of the items. Your victim will receive a notification from you.

 

Facebook currently describes poking as a simple way to just say hello to a friend or mutual friend… or just another means of their attention. “Facebook users poke their friends or friends of friends on Facebook for several reasons. Is poking on Facebook flirting? This might have been true for the earliest generation of Facebook users.

 

Poke War

When pokes are exchanged back and forth between the users, a poke war emerges. There is really no big deal about poke wars, as they only end when one of the users exchanging the pokes gets tired and stops poking. There is no much meaning to start a poke war outside of out-poking the user on the other side.

 

The Facebook Poke Button Is No More. While it’s true you can still poke your friends on Facebook, it won’t be via the Poke Button. It’s a more subtle feature now… Facebook has quietly tucked this feature into a pull-down menu in the right-hand corner of profiles. You can easily access Facebook pokes by using the URL (web.facebook.com/pokes) or as stated earlier, goto the right hand corner of the individuals profile you wish to poke.
Is poke gone from Facebook?
Is poke gone from Facebook?

Screenshot 14-08-2019

 

Rejecting a Facebook Poke

Whenever you are not interested in a poke or feel like you will poke back, you can just ignore it altogether. This is not disrespectful because, in the first place, there is no much meaning with the poke anyway. If you are not ready for a poke from someone, Facebook allows you to delete any Pokes by simply selecting the gray ‘x’. You will not be viewing any notifications. If they continue, however, you can block the sender especially if you are not friends with this user. You can always choose to block the sender if you are not interested or if the person is not a friend.

 

Limitations

Facebook does not allow its users to send multiple pokes to one victim. It is only until the person responds that the sender can proceed. This regulation helps to keep recipients of the pokes safe from continuous irritation especially if they are not interested. This limitation is necessary for maintaining the sanity of poking business. It means recipients will not be harassed by users or find extraordinary pokes from the same person.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, poking can be a fun way to make use of online time, but as long as you do not harass the recipients. If you receive a poke and is not sure how to handle it, do not take it as a big deal, as you can easily ignore it and move on.

 

For more helpful hints and guides on the poke feature, visit (https://www.facebook.com/pokes)

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