Mozilla announced on Thursday that it’s shutting down Pocket, a read-it-later app it acquired in 2017, on July 8. The company is also shutting down Fakespot, its browser extension that helps users identify unreliable reviews.
“Pocket has helped millions save articles and discover stories worth reading,” Mozilla said in a blog post. “But the way people use the web has evolved, so we’re channeling our resources into projects that better match their browsing habits and online needs.”
Users will be able to continue using the app and browser extensions for Pocket until July 8. After that date, Pocket will move into export-only mode. Users have until October 8 to export saved articles, including items in their list, archive, favorites, notes, and highlights.
While Mozilla did not provide a specific reason for shutting down the service, 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 its New Tab experience, email newsletter, and more. The New Tab experience features shortcuts to your most visited sites, your recently visited pages, and your bookmarks.
As for Fakespot, Mozilla says it’s shutting down the service because “while the idea resonated, it didn’t fit a model we could sustain.”
Although it’s unclear how many users Pocket had, the service was able to cultivate a loyal userbase over the years. Users have taken to social media to voice their displeasure with the news.
“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,” Mozilla says. “We’ll continue to build a browser that works harder for you: more personal, more powerful and still proudly independent.”
