Meta Launches Forum, a Standalone Facebook Groups App Positioned as a Reddit Alternative

Meta has quietly released Forum, a standalone iOS app focused on Facebook Groups, aiming to attract Reddit users. The app appeared in Apple's App Store and was first noticed by Geekout Newsletter's Matt Navarra.

Meta has not made any formal announcement about the launch and describes it as part of its usual process of testing new products publicly to see what works.

To use Forum, you need a Facebook account, and your existing Groups membership, profile, and activity are seamlessly transferred from Facebook into the new app.

What Does Forum Differ From Facebook Groups

Forum removes most of the Facebook feed and mainly focuses on conversations within Groups. The main feed is centered around Group discussions, rather than mixing posts from friends, Pages, and algorithmic suggestions.

The app uses anonymized usernames similar to Reddit. Group admins can see a user's real identity, but other members only see the username they chose during interactions.

New users are asked to select topics they’re interested in, so Forum will show content from Groups they’re not yet part of. Anything shared through Forum still appears in the relevant Facebook Group, and posts made directly on Facebook are also visible inside Forum.

AI Features Built In, Context, and Meta’s Previous Groups App Attempt

The forum features two AI tools. One, called Ask, combines responses from multiple groups to deliver answers without users needing to search each community individually. The other is an AI assistant for group administrators, aimed at helping with moderation and community management.

Meta has not provided details about the underlying model or clarified whether content from groups is used for training the AI.

Meta launched a standalone Facebook Groups app in 2014 but shut it down in 2017, saying it would focus on integrating Groups into the main Facebook app. Recent signals suggest that Meta has reversed that decision, now viewing Groups as a distinct product that merits its own dedicated space again.

The move positions Groups against Reddit, highlighting its value as a place for user-driven recommendations, advice, and niche knowledge. Many users often add "Reddit" to Google searches for such content. Meta already manages millions of Groups covering similar topics, and the new Forum app aims to offer a more discussion-oriented experience of that content.

Forum App Availability on iOS and What Comes Next

The forum app is currently available on the iOS App Store in the United States. Meta has not announced when it will be released on Android or in other regions. The company describes the app as one of many products it tests publicly to gauge user interest, suggesting that its launch may still be at an experimental stage.

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