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Meta has released Forum, a standalone app for Facebook Groups, in the US on iOS and Android. The app adds an AI-powered Ask feature, a new community role replacing contributor badges, and topic labels, with more admin tools promised.
Meta has released Forum, a standalone mobile app built around Facebook Groups, now available to download in the US on iOS and Android. The app syncs with a user’s existing Facebook groups and adds new tools including an AI-powered feature called Ask and a redesigned system for recognizing top community contributors, the company announced on its Newsroom blog.
Forum brings a user’s Facebook groups together in one place, showing what’s new across communities and letting members log in with their Facebook account to find existing groups and discover new ones. Meta said it began testing the app in May 2026, and the September announcement introduces new features aimed at surfacing firsthand experiences from group members.
The most prominent addition is Ask, which uses AI to highlight existing Facebook group posts and comments so users can get answers grounded in real member experiences. According to Meta, Ask shows conversations from groups a user already belongs to as well as public groups they haven’t joined, and users can jump directly from an answer into the underlying group discussion. Two new capabilities were announced: Compare your options, which pulls together recommendations for decisions like choosing running shoes or gifts, and Ask home page suggestions, which proposes new questions based on recent searches.
Meta is also testing a new recognition role for top community voices, replacing the previous contributor badges and group expert role. The company said the role is earned through contributions that help a community, such as answering questions, sharing firsthand experiences, and starting conversations. It comes with a new badge and benefits including posts that publish faster. Admins can grant the role directly, Meta will nominate members to help admins identify candidates, and members can remove themselves at any time. All posts remain subject to Meta’s Community Standards.
What Forum Signals for Facebook Groups
The launch signals Meta’s continued investment in Facebook Groups, a product with billions of users but one that has historically lived inside the main Facebook app. A dedicated app gives groups a clearer home on mobile at a time when Meta is competing with Reddit, Discord, and other community platforms for people seeking advice from real users rather than search engines.
The AI-powered Ask feature is the clearest example of that strategy: rather than generating answers from scratch, it surfaces existing group posts and comments, positioning groups as a source of experience-based information — a contrast to generic AI chatbot answers. The new recognition role also hands moderators more direct control over which members gain visibility and privileges, which Meta frames as a way to reward genuinely helpful participation.
For group admins, Meta said new tools are coming, with details promised in the following weeks. That suggests the current release is an early stage of a broader buildout for the people who run these communities.
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From May Test to US Release
: “Meta started testing Forum in May 2026, according to the company’s announcement, before making it publicly available in the US in September. The app is described as “purpose-built” for people who want to engage more deeply with Facebook Groups, rather than being a redesign of the main Facebook app.
The new top-voice role consolidates Meta’s earlier recognition systems — the previous contributor badges and group expert role — into a single earned role. Meta said the new role is testing both on Forum in the US and on Facebook globally, meaning Facebook users who never download the app may also encounter it.
“Forum is a purpose-built app we’re exploring for the people who want to go deeper on Facebook Groups.”
— Meta, Newsroom announcement
What Meta Hasn’t Yet Detailed
Meta describes Forum as an app it is “exploring,” and several elements remain in testing rather than final release. There is no announced timeline for availability outside the US. The new admin tools referenced in the announcement are unspecified, with Meta saying only that more details would come “in the coming weeks.”
How the AI in Ask selects, ranks, or summarizes group content is not explained, nor is how Meta will nominate members for the new recognition role. The new role and topic labels are both described as tests, and Meta has not said whether or when they will roll out to all users.
Upcoming Forum Updates to Watch
Meta said it will share more on how it is building for admins in the coming weeks, which is the next expected announcement. The company also said it is “excited to hear more from the community as we continue to build Forum” and will share updates soon, indicating further feature additions are planned.
The tests of the new recognition role on Facebook globally and the topic labels on Forum will determine whether these features move beyond the testing phase. An international rollout of the Forum app has not been announced.
Key Questions
What is the Forum app?
Forum is Meta’s standalone mobile app for Facebook Groups, available to download in the US on iOS and Android. It syncs with your Facebook account to bring your groups together in one place.
Is Forum available outside the US?
No. Meta’s announcement says Forum is available in the US only. The company has not announced a timeline for other countries.
What does the Ask feature do?
Ask uses AI to surface existing Facebook group posts and comments so users can find answers from real member experiences. It can compare options like products or gifts, and suggests follow-up questions based on recent searches.
How do members earn the new recognition role?
According to Meta, the role is earned through contributions that help a community, such as answering questions and sharing firsthand experience. Admins can grant it directly, Meta will nominate candidates, and members can remove themselves at any time.
Does the new role replace existing badges?
Yes. Meta said the new role replaces the previous contributor badges and group expert role. It is being tested on Forum in the US and on Facebook globally.
Source: rss
