Meta has quietly launched a new standalone app called Forum, a platform designed around Facebook Groups and community discussions, in a move that appears to be aimed at competing more directly with Reddit and other conversation-focused social networks, according to Matt Navarra.
According to the company’s App Store description, Forum is “a dedicated space built for deeper discussions, real answers and communities you care about.” The app allows users to log in with their Facebook accounts and automatically imports their existing groups, profile information, and activity.
The launch was first spotted by social media consultant Matt Navarra and later detailed by TechCrunch. Unlike the main Facebook app, which blends together friends’ updates, videos, marketplace listings, and recommended content, Forum is centered almost entirely on group-based conversations and niche communities.
Meta said Forum’s feeds are built around “what real people are saying, not just what’s trending,” with the app designed to help users continue ongoing discussions across communities. Users can also post using nicknames while still remaining connected to their Facebook identity and group memberships.
One of the app’s key features is an AI-powered “Ask” tab, which compiles answers from discussions across multiple groups. The app also includes an AI assistant for moderators and administrators to help manage groups and moderate conversations.
The release marks another attempt by Meta to create standalone social products tied to its core ecosystem. The company launched a dedicated Facebook Groups app in 2014 but discontinued it in 2017.
Forum also arrives as Meta accelerates development of experimental apps. Recent reports indicated that CEO Mark Zuckerberg told employees that improvements in AI-driven software development could enable the company to launch significantly more products than in previous years.
Forum is also the second new app Meta has introduced in recent weeks. Last month, the company launched Instants, a photo-sharing app focused on disappearing content between Instagram friends.
The launch highlights Meta’s growing focus on AI-powered discovery and community engagement as social media companies increasingly shift toward conversational platforms and recommendation-driven experiences.
