Mozilla is killing its Pocket and Fakespot services to focus on Firefox

Mozilla is killing its Pocket and Fakespot services to focus on Firefox

Pocket did more than this and leaned into longform journalism and literary writing. The site’s “Best of 2020” won a Webby award, and it regularly curated collections on a range of topics. Pocket is already used to curate recommendations on Firefox’s new tab page (if you choose that version of it) and will likely see some features filter into the wider app. Fakespot, acquired by Mozilla in mid-2023, was described by Mozilla then as fitting its “work around ethical AI and responsible advertising.” Mozilla has less to say about Fakespot’s potentially altered future.

“We’re grateful to the communities that made Pocket and Fakespot meaningful,” Mozilla’s post reads. “As we wind them down, we’re looking ahead to focusing on new Firefox features that people need most. This shift allows us to shape the next era of the internet—with tools like vertical tabs, smart search and more AI-powered features on the way.”

Pocket users can use the service until July 8. After that, the service will be in “export-only mode,” with exports of bookmarks and metadata available until October 8, 2025. Premium monthly subscriptions will be canceled immediately, and annual subscribers will get prorated refunds dated to July 8. The mobile apps are no longer available for new installs but can be kept until October 8.

Fakespot’s extensions for other browsers will stop working on July 1. Its Firefox implementation, Review Checker, will shut down June 10.

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