Meta tests dedicated Facebook Groups app 'Forum' with AI integration
The new 'Forum' app syncs content with the main Facebook platform and introduces AI tools for users and moderators, though it retains real-name identity requirements.
Meta has quietly released a beta version of a new dedicated application for Facebook Groups, titled 'Forum', without an official public announcement. The app was identified in the App Store by journalist Matt Navarra, who noted the product is described as a dedicated space for conversations that matter most to users. Meta confirmed to Linxi News that the product is currently under testing.
The application is designed to facilitate discussions similar to those found on Reddit, focusing on topic-based interactions rather than the mixed feed of friends and pages found in the main Facebook app. However, the platform does not support full anonymity. Users must log in with a Facebook account, and while they can utilise anonymised usernames, administrators retain visibility of real identities.
Forum’s feed prioritises content from user groups but also suggests posts from other groups based on user interests, determined by prompts upon first login. Content posted in Forum syncs bidirectionally with the main Facebook app, allowing users to continue or start conversations seamlessly across both platforms.
The application includes two artificial intelligence features. The first, 'Ask', aggregates responses to user queries across groups to provide answers without requiring users to search individual groups. The second is an admin assistant designed to help moderators manage their communities more effectively.
This is not Meta's first attempt at a standalone Groups app; the company previously released and subsequently discontinued a Groups app in 2017. A spokesperson for Meta stated that the company tests lots of new products publicly to see what people find interesting and useful to their experiences across their apps.
