Meta released a new standalone app called Forum in May 2026, positioning it as a dedicated space for community discussions built on top of Facebook Groups. The app was quietly launched without a formal announcement and was first spotted by social media consultant Matt Navarra.
Forum allows users to sign in with their existing Facebook accounts, after which the app loads their groups, profile, and activity. Users can make posts using a nickname, and anything shared on Forum remains visible within their corresponding Facebook groups. Meta describes the app as “a dedicated space built for deeper discussions, real answers and communities you care about,” with feeds centered on group conversations rather than trending content.
The app includes an AI-powered “Ask” tab that compiles answers to user questions from discussions across groups. An admin AI assistant is also available to help group administrators manage and moderate content.
Forum is one of two new apps Meta has released in recent weeks. Last month, the company launched Instants, an app that lets users share disappearing photos with Instagram friends. Both releases are part of a broader push by Meta to ship more apps, a strategy CEO Mark Zuckerberg has attributed to AI-driven efficiencies. The Wall Street Journal reported that Zuckerberg told employees the company was exploring whether it could build as many as 50 new apps, though he noted it should start with a few first.
This is not Meta’s first attempt at a standalone groups product. The company launched a dedicated Groups app in 2014, but shut it down in 2017.
Forum’s arrival, alongside Instants and last year’s Meta Edits video editing app, suggests the company may be accelerating its app output — though whether that pace translates to user adoption remains to be seen. Meta did not immediately return a request for comment.
Source: TechCrunch