Meta quietly released a new Reddit-like app called Forum
Source: Engadget
Overview
Meta has quietly launched a new app called Forum, a dedicated space for conversations that matter most to you. The app is designed specifically for Facebook Groups and is available in the App Store — see the listing here. According to Matt Navarra of the Geekout Newsletter, Forum aims to help users get “real answers” from “real people,” positioning it as a Reddit‑like experience within the Facebook ecosystem.
How It Works
- Users must log in with a Facebook account; their profile and activity carry over from the main Facebook app.
- While the app isn’t anonymous like Reddit, users can still employ anonymized usernames, though administrators can view real identities.
- The feed focuses on conversations from the Groups a user belongs to, rather than the mixed content of the standard Facebook feed.
- Upon first login, the app asks what users want to see more of, potentially surfacing posts from other Groups that match their interests.
- Anything posted in Groups on Forum appears in the main Facebook app and vice versa, allowing seamless cross‑platform interaction.
History
Meta previously released a standalone Groups app when the platform was still called Facebook. That app was discontinued in 2017 — see the coverage here.
AI Features
Forum includes two AI‑powered tools:
- Ask – pulls responses from across a user’s Groups to answer questions, reducing the need to search each Group individually.
- Admin Assistant – helps moderators manage their Groups more efficiently.
Current Status
Meta confirmed that Forum is still in testing. A spokesperson said, “We test lots of new products publicly to see what people find interesting and useful to their experiences across our apps.”