Meta Is Testing New Facebook Groups Features, Introduces Channels

Meta is testing new ways to find and connect with Facebook Groups.

A range of new features are being tested including a left-aligned sidebar and channels list, where users can search for, create, and keep up with individual groups—each boasting its own menu for organizing events, chats, and shops.

Admins can now create channels to connect with group members in smaller, more casual settings. It's possible to organize communities around topics like "new releases" for gamers, "grill masters" for BBQ lovers, or "unsolved mysteries" for true crime podcasters—in your choice of chat, audio, or feed channels.

Text chat looks familiar—like a Messenger thread—while audio rooms appear to mimic Discord (thanks, in part, to the purple accent colors). Facebook is also carrying over its ability to pin your favorite groups so they show up first.

Though not exactly drastic, the changes will provide a new perspective for app users who currently navigate a cramped Groups page with limited access to notifications about new posts or comments.

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Meta's announcement regarding the feature testing offered no timeline for when users can expect to start using them; a company spokesperson, however, told The Verge it plans to roll them out publicly in the coming months.

The news comes just two weeks after a leaked internal memo from Facebook app lead Tom Alison detailed the social network's shift to a more TikTok-esque platform that relies heavily on recommended posts. Facebook hopes an increased emphasis on short-form Reels videos and the second marriage of Messenger and Facebook will be enough to lure young people back to the 18-year-old platform.

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