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Meta has added features to Forum, a dedicated app for Facebook Groups that it began testing in May 2026. The U.S. test now includes AI-assisted discovery of group discussions, topic labels and a new role recognizing helpful members.
Meta is adding AI-assisted group search, interest-based topic labels and a new member recognition role to Forum, its dedicated app for Facebook Groups. The app is available in the United States on iOS and Android, and the additions expand a test that began in May 2026.
Forum syncs with a user’s Facebook groups and brings them together in one place. Meta says people can use the app to see new activity, join conversations and discover groups. Logging in requires a Facebook account. The company describes Forum as an app it is exploring for people who want to engage more deeply with Groups.
Its Ask feature uses AI to highlight existing posts and comments that may answer a question. Results can include discussions from groups a person has joined and public groups they have not joined, with links to open the conversation. Meta says new Ask features are being tested to compare recommendations and suggest questions based on recent searches.
Meta is also testing topic labels, such as Solo Travel or Korean Food, on some posts. Selecting a label surfaces other conversations on that topic. Separately, a new role is replacing contributor badges and the group expert role. Members may earn it by helping their communities through answers, firsthand experience, practical tips or conversations. Admins can grant it directly, and Meta says it will also nominate members for admins to consider.
How Forum Changes Group Discovery
The update gives Facebook Groups a separate mobile destination and adds ways to locate useful discussions across communities. Ask could make existing member advice easier to find, while topic labels offer another route into related conversations. Users can open the source discussion, keeping the answer connected to its group rather than presenting it as a standalone result.
The changes also give administrators a new way to recognize active contributors. Meta says the role includes a badge and benefits such as posts that publish faster. That could affect how members participate and how admins identify people who are helpful to a community. Meta says all posts remain subject to its Community Standards.
These are features in testing, so the announcement does not establish how widely people will use them or whether they will change participation in Groups. The company has not provided usage figures or an evaluation of Ask’s results.
From Facebook Groups to Forum
Facebook Groups are communities organized around shared interests and activities. Forum places a user’s existing groups in a dedicated app and adds discovery features alongside access to those communities. Meta says testing began in May 2026; its September announcement describes new features being added during that test.
The recognition role is also being tested outside Forum: Meta says it is starting to test the role on Forum in the U.S. and on Facebook globally. The announcement does not give a schedule for a wider Forum release. Meta says it plans to share more about tools for group admins in the coming weeks.
“Forum is a purpose-built app we’re exploring for the people who want to go deeper on Facebook Groups.”
— Meta
What Meta Has Not Specified
Meta has not said when or whether Forum will launch beyond the U.S., or provided a timeline for ending the test. It also has not described how many users are testing the app, how Ask selects or ranks discussions, or how it handles cases where group posts provide conflicting recommendations. The announcement says public groups may appear in results but does not detail the controls available for managing those suggestions.
The company has not explained how the faster-publishing benefit for recognized members works in practice. Meta says members are notified when they receive the role and can remove themselves at any time, but it does not specify how long the role lasts or how nominations are made.
Meta Plans More Admin Updates
Meta says it will share more about how it is building tools for group admins in the coming weeks. The Forum test is continuing in the U.S., with the new Ask and topic discovery features under testing. People in the U.S. can download the app on iOS or Android and sign in with a Facebook account; Meta has not announced a date for broader availability.
Key Questions
What is Forum?
Forum is a Meta app that brings together a user’s Facebook Groups and offers ways to find discussions and discover communities.
Where can people get the app?
Meta says Forum is available to download in the United States on iOS and Android. A Facebook account is required to log in.
What does Ask do?
Ask uses AI to highlight existing posts and comments from Facebook Groups that may help answer a question. It can include discussions from groups a user belongs to and public groups they have not joined.
What is the new member role?
It is a role intended to recognize members whose contributions help a community. Meta says admins can grant it, the company may nominate members, and recipients can remove themselves.
When will Forum be available elsewhere?
Meta has not announced a release date or confirmed availability beyond the United States.
Source: rss
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