what does it mean to poke someone on facebook

To poke someone on Facebook means to send them a light-hearted, playful notification to get their attention or acknowledge their presence. It is a social gesture without any significant functional purpose beyond the notification itself. People use poking as a way to say hello, flirt, break the ice, or engage in a playful interaction. When someone is poked, they receive a notification and can choose to poke back, ignore it, or start a conversation. The poke feature has been part of Facebook since its launch and has recently seen a resurgence, especially among younger users aged 18-29. It is essentially an informal, digital nudge that is meant to be fun and simple, without accompanying messages or added context.