Meta has released a new app called Forum, designed to give Facebook groups their own, clearer home outside the main app.
Social media expert Matt Navarra's revealed details (links to Threads) show that the app strongly resembles Reddit in both functionality and goals, aiming to make information exchange between communities more accessible.
The app is currently only available in a limited capacity, apparently only in the U.S. market, but its availability will likely expand with the official launch.
Behind the Forum app is Meta's attempt to separate one of Facebook's most popular features - groups - into its own entity.
Over the years, Facebook's main app has become heavy and filled with ads, algorithmically boosted content, and AI-generated content that is often referred to as AI junk.
Forum, on the other hand, focuses specifically on the discussions and opinions between people that Facebook groups contain.
Information about Facebook Forum. Image: Matt Navarra / Threads
The app's core feature is Ask, which is currently in beta. It allows users to ask a question, and AI will search for answers and opinions directly from multiple different groups.
Instead of the user having to manually browse through discussions, the AI summarizes the key points into an easily readable format. With this, Meta is responding to the growing trend where people increasingly seek recommendations - for example, for the best running shoes or travel destinations - directly from other users instead of traditional search engines.
Users also get more precise control over their own feed. Forum allows fine-tuning of the algorithm directly in the settings, where you can choose which topics you want to see more of and which less. For example, travel tips or hobby topics can be brought to the forefront, while politics, for instance, can be given less weight.
Group admins also get tools such as AI-based summaries of the group's status and data-driven suggestions for boosting engagement in discussions.
The app is currently only available in a limited capacity, apparently only in the U.S. market, but its availability will likely expand with the official launch.
Behind the Forum app is Meta's attempt to separate one of Facebook's most popular features - groups - into its own entity.
Over the years, Facebook's main app has become heavy and filled with ads, algorithmically boosted content, and AI-generated content that is often referred to as AI junk.
Forum, on the other hand, focuses specifically on the discussions and opinions between people that Facebook groups contain.
The app's core feature is Ask, which is currently in beta. It allows users to ask a question, and AI will search for answers and opinions directly from multiple different groups.
Instead of the user having to manually browse through discussions, the AI summarizes the key points into an easily readable format. With this, Meta is responding to the growing trend where people increasingly seek recommendations - for example, for the best running shoes or travel destinations - directly from other users instead of traditional search engines.
Users also get more precise control over their own feed. Forum allows fine-tuning of the algorithm directly in the settings, where you can choose which topics you want to see more of and which less. For example, travel tips or hobby topics can be brought to the forefront, while politics, for instance, can be given less weight.
Group admins also get tools such as AI-based summaries of the group's status and data-driven suggestions for boosting engagement in discussions.
