Mozilla announced on Thursday that it had closed its Pocket, a reading app that it acquired in 2017, on July 8th. The company is also shutting down Fakespot, a browser extension that helps identify unreliable reviews.
“Pocket helped millions of people save articles and discover stories worth reading,” Mozilla said in a blog post. “But as the way people use the web has evolved, we are directing resources to projects tailored to browsing habits and online needs.”
Users will continue to use the app and browser extensions for their pocket until July 8th. From that day onwards, your pocket will be moved to export only mode. Users will need to export articles saved up until October 8th, including items in the list, archives, favorites, notes, highlights, and more.
Mozilla did not provide a specific reason to shut down its services, but the company says it will continue to invest in helping people discover and access high-quality web content. Mozilla says it will do this through new tab experiences, email newsletters and more. The new tab experience features shortcuts to the most visited sites, recently visited pages, and bookmarks.
As for Fakespot, Mozilla said, “Because it didn't fit the model we could maintain while the ideas were resonating.”
Although the number of Pocket users is unknown, the service has been able to develop a loyal user base over the years. Users have gone to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the news.
“This shift will allow us to shape the next era of the Internet, using tools such as vertical tabs, smart search, and more AI-powered features,” says Mozilla. “We will continue to create browsers that work harder for you. They are more personal, more powerful, and still proudly independent.”