When I logged onto Facebook yesterday, my entire feed was covered with videos to celebrate the social network turning 10. Using the hashtag #Facebookis10, Facebook created a video that documented each user’s “journey” on the site. It highlighted photos and statuses with the most likes, as well as other popular shared content. Obviously, Facebook didn’t go through and personalize every user’s video; it was an algorithm that pulled photos, videos and status updates that were ranked the highest based on likes, visits, and other factors.
The videos certainly gave users the opportunity to reflect on happy moments in time, but they served a different purpose for Facebook. The lookback videos were a clever way for Facebook to say “we’ve been here the whole time.” Every happy moment you shared with your friends and family members, Facebook shared it too. The videos even pull from different years, as if to say, “look at how much we’ve been through together!”
It’s a rather ingenious marketing scheme. It allows the users to reflect on the past while the network looks to the future.
I would encourage all Facebook users to check out their video at facebook.com/lookback. Check out a few screencaps from my video!
