Facebook’s Newest Feature Will Give You Nostalgia Overload

2 minute read
The "Facebook" logo is seen on a tablet screen on Dec. 4, 2012 in Paris.
The "Facebook" logo is seen on a tablet screen on Dec. 4, 2012 in Paris.Lionel Bonaventure — AFP/Getty Images
By Jack Linshi
Updated: | Originally published: ;

Now every day is Throwback Thursday—at least on Facebook.

Facebook unveiled a new feature Tuesday called “On This Day,” which resurfaces posts and photos you shared or were tagged in exactly one year ago, two years ago, and so forth. The digital memories will be available only for you to see, but you can also share them with your friends.

Read More: How to Read the First Facebook Messages You Ever Sent to Your Friends

On This Day appears to be Facebook’s answer to Timehop, a popular “today in history” app for various social media platforms—like Facebook and Twitter—that boasts more than 12 million registered users, half of whom log on each day.

This Is What Your Facebook Profile Looked Like Over the Last 11 Years

The Original Facebook Group Page, 2004.
The Original Facebook Group Page, 2004. Before people realized how awesome pictures are.Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2005.
Facebook Profile Page, 2005. Back when Facebook looked a little bit like MySpace. Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page Facelift, 2005.
Facebook Profile Page Facelift, 2005. The "the" is finally dropped.Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2006.
Facebook Profile Page, 2006. You no longer need to be reminded "this is you" at the top of your profile page.Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2007.
Facebook Profile Page, 2007. Every profile update still had to begin with "is," forcing you to talk about yourself in the third person. Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2008.
Facebook Profile Page, 2008. The wall. Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2009.
Facebook Profile Page, 2009. It only took five years for Facebook to create easy-to-find privacy settings. Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2010.
Facebook Profile Page, 2010. Facebook starts to get pretty. Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2011.
Facebook Profile Page, 2011. Zuckerberg realizes that people love pictures, usually of animals.Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2012.
Facebook Profile Page, 2012. The timeline allows you (or your parents) to trace your life from birth to death.Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2013-2014.
Facebook Profile Page, 2013-2014. Facebook introduced a new app, Paper, on Monday.Courtesy of Facebook
Facebook Profile Page, 2014-2015. Facebook updated both the newsfeed algorithm and the privacy settings.
Facebook Profile Page, 2014-2015. Facebook updated both the newsfeed algorithm and the privacy settings.Courtesy of Alex Fitzpatrick/Facebook

Though Facebook doesn’t exactly need help getting users to check the social media platform daily—it has 890 million daily active users—the company has previously encountered trouble when giving users a ride down memory lane. Last year, the Year in Review feature sparked controversy when it brought back painful memories to some users. As a result, the On This Day algorithm has special rules that will block out past posts involving, for example, former romantic partners or friends who have died, from your News Feed.

Facebook previously tested out a new feature called “Memories” briefly in 2010, but it was never rolled out widely.

 

 

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