Meta has introduced a new app named Forum, now available on the App Store, which closely resembles Reddit. This app is designed as a platform for users to engage in deeper discussions and connect with communities of interest, functioning as a standalone version of Facebook's Groups feature.
Users can log into Forum using their existing Facebook credentials, allowing their posts within the app to be visible in their Facebook groups. This marks Meta's second attempt at creating a dedicated app for Facebook Groups after a previous version was discontinued in 2017. The app features an AI assistant called "Ask," which utilizes information from group discussions to provide users with advice and recommendations.
Despite some financial analysts viewing Forum as a potential competitor to Reddit, which saw its stock drop over 5% following the announcement, the existing user demographics of both platforms are significantly different. Meta's quiet launch of Forum, without a major promotional push, raises questions about the company's strategy in releasing new AI-driven applications, following their recent introduction of apps like Threads and Instants.