Facebook announced an overhaul of its main mobile app that puts more emphasis on two of its most critical features: events and groups. The company says it’s placing groups front and center as a cornerstone of how it wants users to think of the main Facebook app, while their events feature is getting a fresh coat of paint as one of the most-used parts of the app that keeps users coming back day in and day out.
“There are tens of millions of active groups on Facebook. When people find the right one, it often becomes the most meaningful part of how they use Facebook. And today, more than 400 million people on Facebook belong to a group that they find meaningful,” the company said in a blog post. “With this in mind, we’re rolling out a fresh new design for Facebook that’s simpler and puts your communities at the center. We’re also introducing new tools that will help make it easier for you to discover and engage with groups of people who share your interests.”
Facebook says the mobile redesign will start rolling out immediately on iOS and Android around the world. It’s also working on a desktop redesign that will arrive in the coming months. The biggest change to note is the new groups tab that’s now placed in the middle row of the redesigned menu bar. When tapping in, users will now get a personalized feed of updates from their various groups as well as recommendations to join new groups based on their interests.