The notes feature on Facebook allowed users to write longer form content that would appear on their profile. It was introduced in 2010 as an alternative to status updates, but was removed in 2014. The notes feature being discontinued was met with some backlash from users who enjoyed the ability to share more detailed stories and musings. This article will examine the history of the notes feature, why Facebook decided to remove it, and the reaction from users.
The Introduction and History of Notes on Facebook
Facebook first introduced notes in August 2010. The idea behind notes was to give users a place to write longer form content than the limited space allowed in a status update. With notes, users could publish stories, reflections, memories, testimonials, and more on their profile.
When notes first launched, they were limited to 5000 characters, but Facebook later increased the limit to 60,000 characters as users wanted more space. The notes editor also included formatting options to make the posts more visually appealing with different fonts, headers, bullet points, and embedded media.
Notes were very popular in the first couple years after launch. By 2012, over 60 million Facebook users had written a note, with over 1 million notes being created daily. Many people used notes as a blogging platform right on their Facebook profile. It became a convenient way to share life updates, travelogues, memories, creative writing pieces, and more without needing a separate blog.
Key Facts About the Rise of Notes:
- Launched in August 2010 as an alternative to status updates
- Original limit was 5000 characters, later increased to 60,000
- Included formatting options for visual styling
- Over 60 million users created a note within two years
- Over 1 million notes created daily at its peak
- Let people blog directly on their profile
Notes helped Facebook compete with blogging platforms like WordPress and Tumblr. It made Facebook a one-stop shop for sharing quick updates, uploading photos, and crafting long form stories. However, as we’ll explore next, Notes ultimately met its demise.
Why Facebook Discontinued Notes
In the following years after its peak popularity, engagement with Notes started to decline. The number of public notes being created and read every day dropped off. By 2012, activity had already fallen by half. This decreasing usage ultimately led Facebook to remove the feature in 2014.
There are a few reasons why Notes lost steam:
Declining Desktop Usage
Notes were most actively used on Facebook’s desktop website, where typing long form content was easiest. However, as mobile apps rose in popularity, people rapidly shifted their browsing and sharing activities to phones and tablets. Facebook’s mobile app has never included Notes, so the feature became far less accessible.
Competition from Ephemeral Formats
Features like statuses, news feed updates, Stories, and videos took off, satisfying people’s appetite for more bite-sized, visual content. The rise of photo and video sharing made Notes start to feel outdated for many users.
Content Spread Across More Networks
Since Notes launched, additional social platforms like Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat emerged. People spread their content across these different channels rather than concentrating it all on Facebook.
Shift Away From Public Sharing
Facebook users started tweaking their privacy settings to share more selectively. With public Notes, your musings were open for all your friends and followers to see. As people became more cautious about what they shared publicly, Notes lost their appeal.
Ultimately, Facebook saw the pool of people interested in Notes shrinking rapidly. They decided it wasn’t worth dedicating resources to support the feature anymore. On June 3rd 2014, Facebook officially removed the ability to create new notes, while still allowing old notes to remain visible.
User Reactions to the Discontinuation of Notes
Many loyal Notes users were quite unhappy with Facebook eliminating the feature. While Notes had waned in popularity relative to Facebook’s overall scale, the users who still relied on it for blogging and self-expression were very vocal about the loss.
There were several common complaints from users after Notes were removed:
Lost Content and Memories
Lots of people had years’ worth of memories, stories, and ideas saved in their Notes that were now only available on Facebook. Unlike external blogs, the content lived and died with the Notes feature (unless users found ways to export their data).
Lost Sense of Ownership
Having a Notes section made people feel like they had ownership over a piece of Facebook for long form personal blogging. Without it, some felt Facebook was forcing them to only create content that would maximize sharing, reactions, and time on site.
No Alternative Platform Recommendation
If Facebook wanted to move away from supporting Notes, many people felt the company should have at least recommended alternative blogging options so people knew where to move their content.
Concerns of Censorship
Some users worried that removing Notes was a way for Facebook to crack down on controversial opinions and marginalized voices that were able to thrive on Notes. They saw it as censorship rather than a practical product decision.
Loss of Creative Outlet
Many writers, poets, memoirists, and creatives used Notes as their primary blogging platform. They lost not just content, but also an audience and emotional outlet.
Despite the backlash among Notes enthusiasts, the broader Facebook user base was largely indifferent to the change. Most activity had shifted to other parts of the platform. But the loss highlights the trade offs Facebook makes between retaining niche features and streamlining its product experience.
The Current State of Notes on Facebook
While Notes are no longer visible or accessible on new Facebook profiles, old Notes still exist in accounts that created them:
- Users who had written Notes can still view them by finding them under the “Posts” section of their profile.
- Other people can only see a user’s Notes if the user has specifically approved them as an audience.
- There is no way to edit, export, or delete old Notes – they remain in a read-only state.
So in essence, Notes still exist in Facebook profiles, like fossils buried in the platform’s history, unseen by most users. They serve as a relic of an older era of social media blogging and self-expression.
| Date | Notes Milestone |
|---|---|
| August 2010 | Facebook launches Notes |
| 2012 | Over 60 million users have created a Note |
| 2012 | Engagement with Notes peaks with 1 million created daily |
| 2012-2014 | Usage of Notes declines rapidly |
| June 3, 2014 | Facebook removes the ability to create new Notes |
| Present | Old Notes still exist but are not publicly accessible |
The Future of Long Form Writing Online
While Notes met its demise, long form self-expression continues to thrive through other platforms. Here are some popular modern outlets:
Blogging Platforms
WordPress and Tumblr host millions of blog and now offer user-friendly templates, custom domains, and monetization options. Many former Facebook note writers moved their work over to dedicated blogging platforms.
Newsletters
Newsletters sent through services like Substack and Revue have become a new long form medium. Writers build personal subscriptions for their essays and stories.
Social Video
YouTube and TikTok may seem oriented to short videos, but creators are also leveraging them for long form content, building engaged audiences around essays, memoirs, and speeches.
Anonymous Apps
Nextdoor, Whisper, and Reddit provide outlets for long form storytelling with more privacy, especially for sensitive topics.
So while Notes failed to stand the test of time on Facebook itself, creative writers have found many other modern channels to use their voices. The need for self-expression and connection endures even as apps come and go.
Conclusion
Facebook Notes offered a convenient built-in blogging tool when it launched over a decade ago. By allowing long form posts directly on people’s profiles, it enabled self-expression and provided an alternative to status updates. However, as engagement declined in the face of shifting consumer preferences, Facebook removed the feature in 2014. Despite some backlash from loyal Note writers, most Facebook users moved on, using other formats for long form content. Notes remain as relics from an earlier era of social media while new platforms have arisen to meet people’s needs. The history illustrates the balance companies must strike between retaining niche features and adapting to evolving user behavior.