Information on Poking on Facebook

Poking someone on Facebook is a quick way to get his attention.

Facebook gives you a quick and simple way to interact with other users with the "Poke" function. You can use this function for multiple reasons, whether you're just saying hello, getting a friend's attention, or playing a game. Facebook determines whom you have permission to poke by your friendship and network status.

Procedure

You may have seen the "Poke" button on the upper-right corner of the screen when browsing a friend's profile, enhanced by the small silhouette of a hand in a poking position. Click on this button and you will be told your friend is about to receive a poke from you and will be alerted on his home page, giving you the option to confirm or cancel your decision. Facebook allows you to poke only your friends, friends of friends, or those with whim you are in a shared network.

Availability

Poke notifications will appear on the right side of the Facebook home page telling you whom it is from. If you are poked, you are given the options to "Poke Back" or "Remove Poke." If you remove the poke from your home page, it will not be visible again unless the same user were to press your "Poke" button again. While a poke is still visible on your home page, that user is not eligible to poke you a subsequent time until you choose "Poke Back" or "Remove Poke."

Purpose

The "Poke" button on Facebook can be used for any number of reasons. Ultimately, poking another user gets his attention and can be a way to say hello. A poke can also let someone know you were thinking about him and lead to additional communication afterward.

Fun

Some Facebook users have created a game with the "Poke" function. A "Poke War" is a game played with you and one other friend, during which you return each other's pokes as quickly as possible. Rules can differ between from person to person, but the outcome is always determined in the same manner. If you fail to return a poke after a certain period of time, the other player is declared the winner of the "Poke War."

References

• Facebook Help Center: Pokes