Facebook launches a “secret” service for discussions and replies / Meta
Meta quietly released its new Forum app for iPhone. The service combines elements of Reddit, Quora, and Facebook Groups, but the main focus here is not only on algorithms, but also on “real people.”
Meta has quietly begun testing its new Forum app. It was first spotted by journalist Matt Navarro and Engadget . The app is already available to some iPhone users via the App Store, though it's not yet available in all markets.
Why is Meta launching another social network?
Judging by the description, Forum is intended as a separate space for “deeper discussions, real answers, and communities that matter to you.” Essentially, the service attempts to combine the mechanics of Reddit, Quora, and classic Facebook Groups.
Users can ask questions , post topics for discussion, and receive answers from members of various Facebook groups. The system automatically pulls up content based on the user's previously selected interests.
Focus on live answers instead of AI content
One of Meta's main messages has been to focus on answers from real people. The company explicitly emphasizes that Forum is designed for live communication, not the flood of automatically generated AI content that is increasingly filling the internet.
However, the service also cannot do without artificial intelligence . Forum has a built-in AI assistant that helps find relevant answers to a user's query. In addition, Meta has integrated a separate AI tool for group administrators.
According to Mashable , Meta is positioning Forum not only as a platform for users , but also as a new tool for managing communities. Group administrators will receive an AI assistant to moderate content, manage posts, and maintain activity within communities.
This could be another step for the company in developing the Facebook Groups ecosystem, which has remained one of the most active elements of the platform in recent years. Against the backdrop of the decline in the popularity of the traditional news feed, groups are increasingly becoming the main source of discussions and user content on Facebook.
Meta continues to experiment with new formats
A Meta representative confirmed in a comment to Engadget that Forum is currently in the testing phase.
“We publicly test many new products to understand what people find interesting and useful for their experience using our apps,” a company spokesperson said.
The emergence of Forum fits well with Meta's current strategy, which is actively looking for new formats for user interaction. The company is simultaneously developing AI services, messengers, short videos, and community tools, trying to keep users within its own ecosystem.
At the same time, Forum looks like an attempt to return interest to thematic discussions and platforms with more “human” content – especially against the background of the growing popularity of Reddit and user fatigue from endless AI spam in social networks and search engines.