Meta Quietly Launches 'Forum,' a Standalone Facebook Groups App

[MacRumors]

Meta today launched a new standalone app called "Forum" that brings Facebook Groups into a dedicated feed separate from the main Facebook experience.

The app was spotted by Matt Navarra without any formal announcement from the company. Its App Store listing describes Forum as "a dedicated space for the conversations that matter most to you," built for the groups users already belong to and those they have yet to discover.

Forum's feed surfaces conversations from a user's existing Groups instead of mixing them with posts from friends, Pages, and algorithmically recommended content. When logging in for the first time, users are asked what they want to see more of, suggesting the app will also surface posts from other Groups aligned with their interests. Any post made through Forum syncs back to the main Facebook app, and vice versa.

Users will need an existing Facebook account to sign in. The app supports anonymized usernames for public interactions, similar to the option already available on Facebook, though group administrators can still see the real identities behind those accounts.

Two AI features are available in Forum. The first, called "Ask," is said to pull answers from across a user's Groups so they don't have to search each community individually. The second is an AI-powered assistant for group moderators to help manage administrative tasks.

This is not Meta's first attempt at a standalone Groups product. The company launched a dedicated Facebook Groups app years ago before discontinuing it in 2017.

A comparison to Reddit has been drawn given the app's focus on niche community discussions, real-people recommendations, and question-and-answer style content. Forum is available on the App Store now.

Article Link: Meta Quietly Launches 'Forum,' a Standalone Facebook Groups App

 

[ZeromusZeromus]

It’s going to be difficult to continue to not use any Meta product now that yet another one must be avoided, but I’ll do my best. Good luck to the rest of you.

 

[Taq'aix]

Honestly just call it Boomer Space.

 

[AppleFanboy1984]

Big surprise: Not in EU App Store

 

[winxmac]

Good thing is it does not require you to upgrade/downgrade to iOS 26.x to download the app.

 

[Eddy Munn]

Big surprise: Not in EU App Store

Nor the UK.

 

[GeoStructural]

Like if a new app is what they needed… 😒

 

[vyspirit]

A comparison to Reddit has been drawn given the app's focus on niche community discussions

At this point, they’re just copying every successful app because nobody cares about Facebook anymore.

Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, Locket, Reddit… what’s next?

 

[rensuchan]

It’s going to be difficult to continue to not use any Meta product now that yet another one must be avoided, but I’ll do my best. Good luck to the rest of you.

I just need some competitor to take the local buy/sell crown from Facebook Marketplace and then I won't feel any FOMO from not being on Meta anymore.

 

[marsbars06]

Not available in Australia either

 

[turbineseaplane]

Should call it "Bot Trash Bin", as that's basically what you'll get.

A bunch of Bots spewing garbage.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Should call it "Bot Trash Bin", as that's basically what you'll get.

A bunch of Bots spewing garbage.

Not an accident I bet.

 

[Biro]

I’m not on Facebook much these days. But when I am, I choose to access the desktop site - even on mobile devices. No way will I download any prying app from Meta.

 

[hobspain]

Meta today launched a new standalone app called "Forum" that brings Facebook Groups into a dedicated feed separate from the main Facebook experience.

The app was spotted by Matt Navarra without any formal announcement from the company. Its App Store listing describes Forum as "a dedicated space for the conversations that matter most to you," built for the groups users already belong to and those they have yet to discover.

Forum's feed surfaces conversations from a user's existing Groups instead of mixing them with posts from friends, Pages, and algorithmically recommended content. When logging in for the first time, users are asked what they want to see more of, suggesting the app will also surface posts from other Groups aligned with their interests. Any post made through Forum syncs back to the main Facebook app, and vice versa.

Users will need an existing Facebook account to sign in. The app supports anonymized usernames for public interactions, similar to the option already available on Facebook, though group administrators can still see the real identities behind those accounts.

Two AI features are available in Forum. The first, called "Ask," is said to pull answers from across a user's Groups so they don't have to search each community individually. The second is an AI-powered assistant for group moderators to help manage administrative tasks.

This is not Meta's first attempt at a standalone Groups product. The company launched a dedicated Facebook Groups app years ago before discontinuing it in 2017.

A comparison to Reddit has been drawn given the app's focus on niche community discussions, real-people recommendations, and question-and-answer style content. Forum is available on the App Store now.

Article Link: Meta Quietly Launches 'Forum,' a Standalone Facebook Groups A

 

[hobspain]

Available EXCLUSIVELY in the US Apple Store.

 

[tong_si_nan_pei]

I already feel disgusted I have WhatsApp on my phone.

 

[Rogifan]

Should call it "Bot Trash Bin", as that's basically what you'll get.

A bunch of Bots spewing garbage.

I haven’t used Facebook groups in a while. Are they all full of bots?

 

[yanki01]

I haven’t used Facebook groups in a while. Are they all full of bots?

Very much so. I'm a Mod in a few large ones and it's constant banning of them. It's also alarming how many people fall for them.

 

[ryanmp]

I know we all hate Meta, myself included, but probably a good move.

The title of this post should read, "Meta Quietly Launches 'Forum,' a Standalone Reddit Competitor". That's all this is about because facebook's algorithmic feed is terrible for group/community content which needs to be chronological.

The only thing I open Facebook for these days I to access the few boomer run groups I am part of, so this is actually might allow me to finally delete Facebook and just have this app.

 

[jml12286]

Seems interesting, as my main use of FB is for the marketplace and car/computer/lego/axolotl groups that I gain and share info with. Would be kind of nice if FB was only groups and none of the other bots and advertisements....

 

[turbineseaplane]

Seems interesting, as my main use of FB is for the marketplace and car/computer/lego/axolotl groups that I gain and share info with. Would be kind of nice if FB was only groups and none of the other bots and advertisements....

Same for me ... only thing I use FB for is Marketplace, and I only do that on desktop, in a Firefox Site Container, with several add ons to de-horrify the experience.

Meta is such a freaking awful company.

 

[StuBeck]

I haven’t used Facebook groups in a while. Are they all full of bots?

Not especially if the people running the group have any sense. Making the members answer questions and setting other requirements has essentially removed them from any group I'm a part of.

Groups are about all I use FB for after stopping using X and other similar sites, so this would actually be a good move in my view.

 

[qnssekr]

I just need some competitor to take the local buy/sell crown from Facebook Marketplace and then I won't feel any FOMO from not being on Meta anymore.

It’s what you are asking for called Craigslist?

 

[joshwithachance]

Oh great... ANOTHER ****ing app.

 

[dmr727]

WhatsApp is still widely relevant, but I can't help but think we're seeing their other products start to be discussed in the same manner we years ago began talking about AOL and Yahoo.