There has been some buzz recently about whether Facebook changed their default font on the website and in the mobile apps. As a frequent Facebook user myself, I decided to investigate this and get to the bottom of it.
What was Facebook’s original font?
Since Facebook’s launch in 2004 up until August 2021, the primary font used across the platform was a customized version of Klavika. This sans-serif font was designed specifically for Facebook by type designer Eric Olson in 2008.
Klavika was chosen for its geometric styling and narrow letterforms that allow it to render well on screens at small sizes. The custom Facebook version had widened letterspacing and was optimized for legibility on screens.
This original Facebook font became an iconic part of their brand identity. It was used universally across facebook.com, the mobile apps, and all brand communications. Most Facebook users would instantly recognize the Klavika font when seeing it.
When did Facebook update the font?
In August 2021, Facebook announced that they were rolling out a new primary font across their apps and marketing materials. The new font is called Meta Serif.
This new typography was launched in conjunction with the company’s rebrand to Meta, aligning the Facebook brand visually with the new corporate identity.
The font change was unveiled at Meta’s Connect 2021 conference. It rolled out gradually over the following months until Meta Serif became the default font everywhere on Facebook by early 2022.
Why did Facebook change the font?
There were a few key reasons behind Facebook’s decision to ditch Klavika in favor of Meta Serif:
- As part of the Meta rebrand, they wanted a new font to reflect the new corporate identity
- The thinner letterforms of Meta Serif are better suited to small text on screens
- Meta Serif has wider language support for international alphabets
- Switching to a custom in-house font gives Meta full control and ownership
The new Meta Serif font was designed specifically to be legible and distinctive in digital environments across devices and platforms.
What does the new Meta Serif font look like?
Meta Serif has subtle rounded terminals at the ends of letterstrokes, giving it a friendlier and more approachable feel. The letterforms are taller and thinner than Klavika, with open counters that maintain clarity at small sizes.
Here is an example to compare Klavika and Meta Serif:
| Klavika | Meta Serif |
|---|---|
| ABCDEFGHIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklm nopqrstuvwxyz |
ABCDEFGHIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklm nopqrstuvwxyz |
As you can see, Meta Serif has more refined, neater letterforms. The consistent stroke weights and open counters increase legibility, especially on screens.
Where is the new font being used?
The Meta Serif typeface is now used as the primary font across all Meta’s brands, including:
- facebook.com website and mobile apps
- instagram.com website and mobile apps
- whatsapp.com website and mobile apps
- Messenger website and mobile apps
- Oculus website and VR interfaces
- Meta marketing materials and corporate communications
It has replaced Klavika as the core typographic identity across Meta’s digital properties and beyond.
Was there any backlash to the font change?
Yes, there was some minor backlash and criticism of the Meta Serif font from long-time Facebook users.
Key complaints about the new font included:
- Meta Serif was perceived as less unique or distinctive than the previous bespoke Klavika font
- Thinner letterforms potentially reduce legibility at small sizes
- Dislike of change and losing brand familiarity with the iconic Klavika
However, most regular Facebook users adapted to the new font quickly. Meta Serif enhanced cross-platform brand unity and allowed custom typographic optimizations.
What were the technical challenges in rolling out the new font?
Implementing a complete font change across Meta’s vast digital ecosystem posed some technical challenges:
- Updating font files across thousands of servers
- Ensuring font compatibility across different browsers and devices
- Maintaining performance with increased font file sizes
- Developing fallbacks for unsupported devices or browsers
- Testing rigorously across platforms to catch rendering issues
Extensive testing and gradual rollout helped minimize disruption during the transition period to Meta Serif.
Does the font change affect SEO?
There is no significant SEO impact from Facebook changing the default font to Meta Serif.
Font styles do not directly influence search engine rankings. The Meta Serif typeface was designed to be highly legible and accessible across devices.
The font change was purely an aesthetic brand decision, rather than anything to enhance SEO performance.
Is Meta Serif available for public use?
No, Meta Serif is a proprietary corporate font exclusively available for Meta brands. It is not available for public licensing or use.
Meta Serif was specially customized by Meta’s in-house design team. They have not released the font publicly or for commercial use.
Klavika, the previous Facebook font, also remains unavailable to the public since its creation in 2008.
Does the new font affect usability?
The Meta design team conducted substantial research and usability testing on Meta Serif prior to rollout. Their findings showed no significant usability issues compared to Klavika.
Key advantages of Meta Serif for usability include:
- Enhanced legibility at small sizes
- Wider language support for international users
- Consistent reading experience across platforms
Users adapted quickly to the font change. Meta Serif is now fully adopted as the primary interface font. There are no major usability impediments.
Conclusion
Facebook made a significant font change in 2021-2022, phasing out their bespoke Klavika font in favor of the newly designed Meta Serif.
This new corporate typeface was created to align with the Meta rebrand. It has slightly more refined letterforms optimized for digital interfaces.
The rollout required extensive technical coordination to update fonts across Meta’s platforms. Users adapted rapidly, and Meta Serif is now the established primary font for Meta brands.
This major typographic redesign demonstrates Meta’s commitment to evolving their visual brand identity.