In this year 2025, announcements are multiplying and are not alike around Mark Zuckerberg's social networks. Last March, he had also announced a big return of the "OG Facebook", in other words the original Facebook.
While Meta's social network has long been criticized for its features, deemed too far removed from its original principle, Facebook could well reinvent itself in the coming months. But if the appearance of the new "Friends" tab could suggest a return to Facebook's roots, Mark Zuckerberg's new statement is somewhat surprising...
New... virtual friends?
You've probably already added your more or less close family members, your friends, your office colleagues, and maybe even a few acquaintances on Facebook and Instagram, but have you thought about your "virtual" friends?
If you already have a full friends list, it could well be that the new Meta feature is an opportunity to add new relationships. Indeed, in an interview with American podcaster Dwarkesh Patel lasting over an hour, the Facebook CEO presented a new idea that is likely to be much talked about in the coming days...
Thanks to Meta AI, which returned to the forefront with a dedicated application at the end of April, the company has already proven that it is determined not to be overtaken by OpenAI, Google Gemini, and other competitors.
And if Meta's artificial intelligence is already available in its social networks, it could go even further with adding virtual friends. According to Mark Zuckerberg, this feature would allow Facebook and Instagram users to get advice on their real-life relationships, or ask intimate questions they don't dare to ask their loved ones.
Fewer than three "real" friends for the average American
Although Meta's idea may raise questions, it is actually very pragmatic, and is based on a very alarming observation. According to Mark Zuckerberg, the average American only has three people they consider friends, while they would like to have around fifteen.
Faced with this observation, and with it becoming increasingly difficult to form real relationships since the 2020 health crisis, Meta hopes to fight the loneliness that Americans may feel. However, at this stage, this is still just an idea, as Mark Zuckerberg has not communicated any specific date...
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