Facebook is testing a major redesign that would greet users with full-screen video the moment they open the app, in a move that closely mirrors the experience of rival platform TikTok. Facebook head Tom Alison announced the “reimagined experience” in July 2026, with testing set to begin later in the year.
The redesign will initially roll out in countries with a noted preference for video content, with a potential expansion to the US planned for the following year. Meta has not shared visuals of the new interface. The company cited its own observation that “video is where conversations are happening, communities are forming, and even commerce is starting to take place” as the driver behind the changes.
The announcement comes after Meta reported losing 20 million users collectively across its platforms in the first quarter of 2026. Facebook remains the most popular social platform globally, but YouTube ranks a close second and TikTok — which surpassed 1 billion monthly users just three years after launch — is not far behind. Meta previously launched Reels for Instagram in 2020 to compete with TikTok. In 2022, Alison told The Verge he saw “TikTok chasing Facebook,” rather than the reverse.
Alongside the video redesign, Meta is launching Seller, a dedicated app for Facebook Marketplace sellers to manage listings, track performance, and message buyers. The company also launched a Forum app earlier in 2026 to provide a dedicated space for Facebook Groups interactions, similar to Reddit’s subreddit communities.
Facebook is also updating its verification badge system. Previously limited to paid Meta Verified subscribers at $11.99 per month, a free verified badge will now be available to users who complete a “simple selfie verification” process, intended to confirm that a profile belongs to a real person.
Source: The Verge