Facebook considers giving up and becoming TikTok - The Verge

What the report says

The Verge reports that Facebook is preparing to test a redesigned app experience that will open directly into full-screen video for some users later this year. Facebook head Tom Alison announced the plan, which Meta described as a response to users increasingly gathering, talking and shopping around video. Meta did not show the new interface, but said the initial trial will focus on countries where video use is especially strong, with possible US expansion next year.

The move would push Facebook further toward the short-form, immersive video model associated with TikTok. The Verge notes that Meta has already used that strategy on Instagram through Reels, launched in 2020, and is now looking to apply a similar approach to its older social network. The report also cites Meta’s own data showing its family of apps collectively lost 20 million users in the first quarter of 2026, though Meta does not publish separate user totals for each platform.

The article frames the video test as part of a broader effort to adapt Facebook by borrowing ideas from other online services. Meta is launching a separate Seller app for Marketplace users to manage listings, performance and buyer messages, a move The Verge compares to Craigslist-style commerce. Earlier this year, Facebook also introduced a Forum app focused on Groups, resembling Reddit’s community structure.

Facebook is also changing verification. According to The Verge, the platform will offer a free badge tied to a selfie verification process, alongside paid Meta Verified subscriptions that start at $11.99 per month. The stated goal is to help users identify accounts connected to real people.