Meta launches sixth annual Sharing Memories project

Meta launched the sixth annual Sharing Memories Holocaust remembrance project on Instagram in partnership with the nonprofit Our 6 Million, running under the theme "A Vanishing Generation." The 2026 edition is digital-first and social-media-based because of heightened security risks tied to the Mideast war. For the first time the initiative was presented at the Office of the President in Israel, with President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog attending, joined by Meta Israel leadership.

The project pivots from in-person filmed testimony sessions to a purely social-media approach, distributing short-form video content designed for platform-native consumption. The program relies on creator-led encounters and Instagram Reels to reach younger demographics and to maximize shareability and engagement. Key participants and partners include:

• •Meta (platform and distribution)
• •Our 6 Million (project partner and survivor outreach)
• •Israeli content creators and celebrities who record and publish Reels
• •Government sponsorship highlighted by the Office of the President

The shift to digital-first preservation responds to a sharp decline in living Holocaust survivors; in 2025 roughly 12,000 survivors died in Israel. That demographic reality compresses the time window for firsthand testimony and increases the urgency of scalable archival strategies. Presenting the project at the presidential office underscores national commitment and elevates platform responsibility for historical memory. The approach also reflects broader trends: using social platforms and creator networks to transmit complex historical narratives to younger, attention-constrained audiences.

Moving to a social-media-only format changes the preservation and moderation calculus. Short-form videos improve reach but fragment context, complicate long-term archival metadata capture, and increase exposure to misinformation and denialist content. Security concerns that drove the change also signal that in-person oral-history projects may be intermittent; robust digital archiving and verified provenance will be essential to maintain credibility.

Expect further investment in metadata, archival partnerships, and platform tools that balance virality with context and verification. Watch how Meta and nonprofit partners standardize formats, tag provenance, and enable durable access to these testimonies for researchers, educators, and libraries.