Mark Zuckerberg shocked many this week by admitting that Facebook’s original mission to connect and share with the people in your life is no longer the company’s main focus. During a federal antitrust case, the Meta CEO revealed that the platform has shifted from being a social hub to becoming a broad discovery and entertainment space.
What was once a place for friends and families to connect has transformed into an endless AI-curated feed designed to keep users engaged longer and maximise ad impressions. This change highlights how Facebook, now Meta, prioritises content consumption and entertainment over personal connections. For many users, the platform feels less like a community and more like a content machine.
This shift has sparked debate about the role of social media in modern life. While Facebook continues to connect people indirectly through content and shared experiences, its focus on AI-driven feeds and viral content shows a move toward engagement metrics and revenue generation. Zuckerberg’s statement confirms what many users have already felt: Facebook today is more about scrolling than meaningful social interaction.
The platform’s transformation also raises questions about the future of social media. Will other platforms follow the same model of prioritising content discovery over personal connections? And what does this mean for online communities and how people communicate in the digital age? Facebook’s journey from a personal connection hub to a global content engine shows the power of technology to reshape human interaction, for better or worse.
For users, the key takeaway is to be mindful of how they engage with content and understand the platform’s motivations. What started as a simple idea to connect people has evolved into one of the most sophisticated digital entertainment machines in the world, shaping how billions spend their time online.
