Facebook appears to be testing a reincarnation of memorable stories, which appeared a couple of times on the site and then disappeared.
The feature first showed up on December 16 for only about an hour, came back on January 12 and vanished at some point thereafter.
Now it’s back and this time around, the feature has the label memorable status updates, and instead of showing you some of your own content, instead you see something from one of your friends.
The module shows up in the right-hand column of the page, and not in a news feed. If there’s a schema to when these suggestions of past status updates appear, I couldn’t deduce it.
But when I actually searched for the keywords “memorable status updates,” I only saw the feature maybe one tenth of the times I re-inputted the query.
And each time it showed up, the number of status updates included changed. Plus each set would show multiple posts by the same person. And Facebook only chose one of four friends every time I saw the memorable status updates feature. (Yeah, I tested this a lot.)
And perhaps I got an odd selection, but relative to each friend shown, the status updates weren’t the ones they’d consider most memorable. And they weren’t ones that got the most likes nor comments.
This suggests that Facebook might just be testing the feature in different variations to see what might work or not.
Readers, have you seen memorable status updates show in the right-hand column of your screen on Facebook?
Special thanks to Eti Suruzon for the tip.
I've seen it on my facebook as well. I don't know what to use it for though….
Comment by Pinksparkles3.14 — March 16, 2011 @ 6:31 pm
Ha! I thought I was trippin out!
I just saw this on a wall then went back to try & find it again on other pages but it disapeared!
Thanx for letting me know I have not totally lost it!
Comment by Julie — March 16, 2011 @ 6:45 pm
yeah its pretty cool i wish it was there all the time
Comment by Sahib — March 16, 2011 @ 7:07 pm
Please stop messing with things it is driving the older users insane. They just get used to one thing and you totally change everything. Not good my friends.
Signed a Disability Advocate.
Comment by midmoblogger — March 16, 2011 @ 8:14 pm
yay! I missed these when they took them away last time. Haven't seen them again yet, but looking forward to it.
Comment by socialskinny — March 16, 2011 @ 8:17 pm
Yes. Just noticed it. Was a little disconcerted because the first friend whose "memorable status updates" I saw is in very ill health and for a minute I was worried he had died and this was some sort of memorial feature.
Comment by Guest — March 16, 2011 @ 8:18 pm
I have – it was a bit random, but kind of neat to see them, as I remembered the selected posts when they had originally appeared. Nice to review the past.
Comment by Peggy Jo Donahue — March 16, 2011 @ 8:21 pm
Yep – not memorable … and most importantly, did not include anything to do with "me". It's in the past, has nothing to do with me, and is totally random. cannot see benefit.
Comment by Carlo — March 16, 2011 @ 8:21 pm
I've found that if you view a status on its own page (by clicking the date of that status on someone's wall), Memorable Status Updates for that friend always shows up.
Comment by Alex — March 16, 2011 @ 8:22 pm
Just noticed this feature; found your article searching for the phrase 'memorable status updates'. Have never heard of it before. Yes – as you've described: Top right-hand of the page, four updates from one friend who's post I happened to be visiting via the notification menu. None of these status updates were memorable, or well-responded to. Just random.
Comment by guest — March 16, 2011 @ 8:27 pm
Yes, I just saw this as well. I agree it was completely random and not a status update that had the most comments. It will be interesting to see where they are going with this.
Thanks for the post!
Comment by @KendraRamirez — March 16, 2011 @ 8:40 pm
I thought it was worded differently on mine . . . but I did see it. It was weird because the person whose status it was is like a semi-friend, on the level where it would seem stalker-ish if I commented on such an old status of theirs.
hmmm . . .
Comment by laterain — March 16, 2011 @ 8:44 pm
…Para ganhar conhecimento, adicione coisas todos os dias. Para ganhar sabedoria, elimine coisas todos os dias.
Comment by GrandeVix — March 16, 2011 @ 9:03 pm
I've seen on my facebook as well. It exactly matches your description. I always see it in the page where I can see photos updates from my friends.
Comment by Kat — March 17, 2011 @ 12:24 am
Saw them briefly mostly from the same friend, think as it stands a bit pointless really as didn't feature any which I had commented on plus they were rather mundane updates with no big comments behind them so cant understand what the logic would be to this right now
Comment by @natashaek — March 17, 2011 @ 10:24 am
Worst thing is that I got them from someone I hid!!!!!!!!! hello?!
Comment by Guest — March 17, 2011 @ 10:55 am
Yes, and I don't want my past dredged up randomly by all and sundry. How do I block this?
Comment by Rachel — March 17, 2011 @ 11:18 am
Yeah, just noticed that it shows up in the right right column of Facebook pages. Even in Swedish.
Comment by Granat Webbyrå — March 17, 2011 @ 11:22 am
I want to block my own past status updates. The past no longer matters. I hope this is an option.
Comment by Beck — March 17, 2011 @ 12:32 pm
Huh. That's odd. I don't have this.
How can I find it?
How can I delete old statuses, apart from scrolling down?
Comment by Kelly — March 17, 2011 @ 1:37 pm
How do I turn it off????
Comment by Karon — March 17, 2011 @ 2:09 pm
Don't like it – the people they put on my page I haven't really interacted with much…
Comment by KJL — March 17, 2011 @ 3:34 pm
Agree with several folks – past is NOT relevant and should not be dredged up. We should have an option to block our past posts from appearing.
Comment by Cathy — March 17, 2011 @ 3:47 pm
They need to give us a way to control whose updates we are seeing. I don't want to see the statuses of people I've hidden in my feed. That's the whole point of hiding them.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/FB-Lose-Memorabl…
Comment by Rose — March 17, 2011 @ 4:18 pm
no le pido dinero a nadie si usted quiere dar algo de buena fe sera bienbenido y sies que yo me lo e ganado pues le doy las gracias
Comment by Genesis — March 17, 2011 @ 5:51 pm
I saw it earlier today but now I don't see it all.
Comment by Andrew — March 17, 2011 @ 7:24 pm
Yea.. but then it vanished and i dont know how to get it back :/
Comment by Ummm ? — March 17, 2011 @ 7:45 pm
i saw it when i was in a message thread..
Comment by Guest — March 18, 2011 @ 12:29 am
Yeah and the irony is that out of all the people that showed up out of my 900+ friends, it was for a girl that I really like
Comment by Bryan C — March 18, 2011 @ 4:53 am
Pleaseeeeee, someone smart, help us to block these memorable status updates that arent so memorable!!!???
((
Comment by Mia — March 18, 2011 @ 5:50 am
so let's say 2 years ago i wrote a status saying I LOVE MY AMAZING BOYFRIEND JOHN, or JOHN SURPRISED ME WITH THE BEST GIFT EVER……….but now i'm not with John, I'm with, Jim…..that means Jim could get a memorable status update of me saying all these things about another man…..?? Hmmmm….can see potential issues arising……
Comment by urno — March 18, 2011 @ 8:12 am
Seems creepy to me, I mean: there must be some method of intuding into our posting privacy to determine which status is more memorable or not!
Comment by Ben — March 18, 2011 @ 11:22 am
How is the past EVER not relevant? Especially, when we are discussing human beings.
Comment by hawkeye — March 18, 2011 @ 3:22 pm
I want it to go away. It is annoying.
Comment by Rich — March 18, 2011 @ 5:26 pm
Try an app like Status Statistics: http://apps.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=...
It'll let you search your old statuses (eg, if you know a specific status you'd like to get rid of), or see a compiled list of all your statuses together in a single page, organized by month. (So the latter is like if you scrolled down, but it's much faster and way less annoying, since it filters out all the non-status posts that you'd have to dig through on your wall).
Comment by Amanda — March 18, 2011 @ 11:48 pm
I would like to have a way to block these "memorable" posts. I had posted something back in the summer. I teach school and must have mentioned something about not being thrilled with having to conduct an IEP meeting in the summer and my principal just called me in the other day to say that someone mentioned it to her…I was like it's MARCH…why is this being brought up NOW…then it dawned on me that they probably saw it in this feature. Let's leave the past in the past!
Comment by Haley Smith — March 19, 2011 @ 7:05 am
I have seen this pop up a few times in the last few days. If I click on one of the memorable statuses, it takes me to the friend's page, but not that status. If I try to go back and see the memorable status list again on my home page it's gone. I don't find this an especially useful feature, even if it worked.
Comment by Elle — March 19, 2011 @ 10:40 am
ive seen it once
Comment by keeganptero — March 19, 2011 @ 1:50 pm
I didn't care for it, I saw a post from my cousin talking about the her sons birthday who had past away years ago….made it a sad moment instead of just surfing fb.
Comment by Guest — March 19, 2011 @ 6:49 pm
I hate it. Status' you delete still show up. You have no idea who is seeing these status' and can't control what it re-posts even if you deleted it/had different privacy settings then. Really considering deleting my profile because of this.
Comment by Anne — March 20, 2011 @ 3:47 pm
i think its great maybe you should be able to block or hide it but why does everyone think about the bad memories what about the good ones that you can sit an reminisce about to your love one or a good friend
Comment by holiday717 — March 21, 2011 @ 11:51 am
and also all i can say is if your worried about what people might see that you posted stop being a little 10 year old posting their every move on Facebook
Comment by holiday717 — March 21, 2011 @ 11:54 am
stupid 'feature'
Comment by bennyboy_ — March 21, 2011 @ 1:44 pm
I've had it with Facebook and all their "great" ideas. The "Memorable Status" thing has resurrected previously deleted status and my new girlfriend has seen things now that…well, let's just say, it wasnt a good weekend. I realize they were my comments from TWO YEARS AGO but I can see that FB users are regarded so trivial that we never got the option to share them or not!
This status thing has absoutely no purpose except for Facebook to remind us that they can and will do what they want when they want to and as for me, Im done providing them that much control over my life. I lived for 43 years without Facebook in my business just fine. I'll hopefully live for another 43 years without if and MUCH BETTER at that.
Comment by Guest — March 21, 2011 @ 3:35 pm
Ugh yeah I saw this today. Anyone know how to disable this? I really don't like the idea of this especially if I can't control which statuses post. I don't want this to stir up old debates.
Comment by RAIDRAW — March 21, 2011 @ 7:27 pm
most of my comments suck. i don't want to relive them. how do i turn it off?
Comment by rock — March 21, 2011 @ 10:36 pm
Plus you know as soon as they have got the key word relevance sorted out, ads will start appearing
Comment by Liam — March 22, 2011 @ 5:10 am
It's Called "Change" it happens with "Technology"
Comment by Andrew — March 22, 2011 @ 5:35 am
Today marks the one year anniversary of my best buds death. The status updates showed up on both mine and his moms page today. First time I had seen or heard about it.
Comment by Beth — March 22, 2011 @ 11:35 am
can you get rid of it? my old status' were cringey
Comment by guest — March 22, 2011 @ 3:40 pm
give us a choice to not have our memorable status shown!!
Comment by llor — March 22, 2011 @ 3:41 pm
I just deactivated my account because of this! I don't want my past being dredged up and I don't want the new people in my life having to face my past everyday! If they do decide to keep this feature, I hope there is some way to block others from seeing these past updates. Your past is your past and you should have the option to keep it that way..
Comment by Amanda — March 22, 2011 @ 6:39 pm
Facebook should at LEAST post the dates with these. I look at them and think they're supposed to be current, like "Recommended Pages" or the ads…and there's no indication of how old the content is.
Also see https://www.facebook.com/help/?question=1088662 for another instance of unintended consequences.
Comment by WBT — March 22, 2011 @ 7:47 pm
How to I stop my own posts from being displayed to others as a Memorable Status post. This is crazy.
Comment by @CJWMtnView — March 22, 2011 @ 8:50 pm
Enter text right here!
Comment by @CJWMtnView — March 22, 2011 @ 8:50 pm
Just noticed it tonight…no use for it…meanwhile, when are they going to fix the "suggest to friend" feature for page admins???
Comment by candygirl — March 22, 2011 @ 10:56 pm
Don't see the need for it at all.
Comment by Pauline — March 23, 2011 @ 7:25 am
My friend's updates showed up on the anniversary of his death too.
Comment by Rose — March 23, 2011 @ 2:06 pm
Just seen it pop up on mines today and to be honest, it looks like yet another complete and useless addition.
Comment by James — March 24, 2011 @ 4:59 am
I think it may be statuses from that person when the pictures were uploaded onto facebook maybe?
Comment by Chloe c — March 24, 2011 @ 3:31 pm
i find it intrusive
Posts I deleted reappear
things due to ex relationships reappear, people are having statuses appear from friends that have died
It's wrong and should be opt out
there are statuses from past I want to leave there thank you
Comment by karen clayton — March 25, 2011 @ 8:03 am
I DO NOT LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE CONTROLLED BY THE USER WHO POSTED THE COMMENTS. I DON'T WANT POSTINGS FROM YEARS AGO THAT NO LONGER REFLECT WHO I AM –
Comment by Shell — March 25, 2011 @ 10:59 am
I'm going through a tough time at the moment with my partner, these memorable status updates are causing more problems, I wish it would stop, I wish fb would connect with users and have the decency to ask if anyone wants to opt in to any new feature it introduces. I need help to rid this feature, I love my girlfriend ever so much and if she should wish to leave me because of what i have put up in the past about someone else, I would just want to die… she is the best thing that has ever happened to me… please take this feature away, they are not memorable and i had already deleted these a long time ago… if you only knew fb what torment you are causing… how detrimental your actions are… both inconsiderate and thoughtless… allow your users the freedom of opting in or out… thank you :'(
Comment by Tony Sealy — March 25, 2011 @ 1:06 pm
maybe older users need to revisit that paper dictionary and find the meaning of the phrase UP TO DATE… the served verb with that, is TO KEEP!
look, old or young, dumb or smart, doesnt even matter, facebook and others will do things that many will dislike…. simply dont use or do something else other than just simply bitching in public, take the matters further and start campaigns and write emails, see if it picks up, if it doesnt, then either adapt to new changes or give up, grouchy people are ESPECIALLY NOT WELCOME on a SOCIAL place like fb.
no offense inteded here, just str8 talk… slow drivers must keep right or get a chauffeur! not go 5 miles under the limit on the left n then flip the bird n honk at those who r speeding…
Comment by georgi — April 5, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
u can also go back and delete that particular status update… just sayin, aint that hard, a couple clicks and refereshes and u should be good!
Comment by georgi — April 5, 2011 @ 9:43 pm
Today!
Comment by Rebecca — April 5, 2011 @ 10:32 pm
How do you get this thing off your profile…I don't want people to see what I've said a long time ago…this is distastful. Wanna close my account because of this.
Comment by shannon — April 6, 2011 @ 12:26 pm
[...] Memorable status updates haven’t even gone live as a feature yet, and users are already protesting it, on a page with 1,108 fans as of this writing. The page shrewdly asks Facebook to either get rid of the feature or let users control which of their own status updates are truly memorable. [...]
Pingback by Facebook Page Protests Memorable Status Updates — April 6, 2011 @ 1:56 pm
Don't bother! I spent HOURS going back to the beginning of time, deleting updates I didn't want certain people to see again or for the first time… all for nothing! Previously DELETED status updates are being included in the new "feature"!!! Thanks facebook! Way to stir things up for people! Jerks!
Comment by Guest — April 6, 2011 @ 4:23 pm
This is bull—- and don't like it one bit. If I delete a post that means I don't want it on FB. I do not like this new practice and why don't you just leave well enough alone.
Someone is always changing things on FB and I have complained about it before. With no results from the complaint or acknowledge of my complaint . Seriously thinking of disconnecting from FB permanently.
Comment by D. Eshelman — April 6, 2011 @ 6:03 pm
I've seen it. It's confusing. I have only one person who gets listed in them, too. It really should be by numbers of likes/comments or so we can choose statuses relating to words or containing certain words.
Comment by Bridget Ilene Delaney — April 6, 2011 @ 6:26 pm
This is so annoying, what is wrong with you people.
Comment by Chris — April 6, 2011 @ 11:12 pm
I noticed this new feature when my deceased friend who passed away from breast cancer in October appeared on my FB page with a post that she made last summer. At first I did not realize this was a "memorable facebook comment" and was confused and disturbed when I read it. It took me a minute to realize that Facebook had pulled this comment and decided to feature it. I do not like it and want them to take it off.
Comment by Kristie — April 7, 2011 @ 11:55 am
i have it, how do i get rid of it, it is driving me INSANE!!
Comment by susan — April 8, 2011 @ 10:10 pm
I am so sorry for you both. It is haunting to my husband and me as well. Our daughter was in an abusive relationship and THOSE status updates to her ex are the ones that show up. At first we were terrified she was talking to him again and then we noticed the year was 2010. Obviously, someone didn't think this thing through : (
Comment by Guest — April 22, 2011 @ 10:56 pm
[...] Memorable Status Updates had appeared on May 16. Memorable Stories had shown up on January 12 and the preceding December 16, although the latter was more of a flash in the pan compared to the prior appearances. [...]
Pingback by In New Test, Facebook Revives Previous Status Updates — July 22, 2011 @ 2:36 pm
1. If you think "deleting" a post or status erases it from the internet, you're delusional.
2. If you have ever put information on the internet, it's there for good, and you need to accept that.
3. Stop whining about it and close your account if it bothers you so much, but there will be an opportunity to "opt in or out". The only reason you can't right now is because it's still in its trial phase and not everyone sees the resurrected posts.
Comment by Jenna — August 18, 2011 @ 11:07 pm
I don't like it and I want it to stop. Some of my status remarks can be misunderstood out of context and some aren't anything I would post now. Any hope of blocking this procedure?
Comment by J H — August 31, 2011 @ 6:27 am
Oh man.. if people actually listen to you. Mark's gonna be screwed. BTW I could give sh!t, if he doesn't realize or anyone he's employs for that matter, how pissed people are at this… well that's life.. live and learn. Maybe there will be some new and "improved" incarnation of Myspace. LOL
Comment by Buddy — August 31, 2011 @ 10:37 pm
[...] reader sent us the screenshot to the right, showing a Facebook reminder about a friend’s past work [...]
Pingback by Is Facebook’s Timeline Teasing You Or Your Friends? — October 6, 2011 @ 1:25 pm