Meta has launched a new app called Forum, designed specifically for Facebook Groups, without an official announcement. The app, discovered by Geekout Newsletter’s Matt Navarra in the App Store, promotes itself as “a dedicated space for the conversations that matter most to you.” It aims to provide users with “real answers” from “real people,” drawing a parallel to Reddit’s functionality.
Access to Forum requires a Facebook account, enabling users to carry over their profile and activity upon logging in. While users can utilize anonymized usernames, administrators will still have access to their real identities. Unlike the standard Facebook feed that includes posts from friends, followed Pages, and algorithmically suggested content, Forum’s feed is focused solely on conversations from the user’s various Groups.
Upon first logging in, Forum prompts users to specify what content they wish to see. This feature may also recommend posts from Groups that align with user interests. Additionally, any posts made in Groups on Forum will be visible on the main Facebook app and vice versa, facilitating seamless interaction between the two platforms.
This is not the first Group-centric app from Meta, which previously launched a standalone Groups app that was discontinued in 2017. Forum incorporates artificial intelligence features, including one called “Ask,” which aggregates responses from across Groups to assist users in finding information efficiently. Another feature is an admin assistant designed to help moderators manage their Groups.
Meta has confirmed that Forum is still in the testing phase, as the company evaluates what users find interesting and useful across its applications. “We test lots of new products publicly to see what people find interesting and useful to their experiences across our apps,” a spokesperson stated.
