Facebook's new 'Friends' tab lets you ditch algorithmic clutter
What's the story
In a bid to cut down on algorithm-driven suggestions on its main feed, Facebook is introducing a new "Friends" tab.
The update, which will be rolled out in the US and Canada, will show content from your friends - like stories, reels, posts, friend requests, and birthdays.
The move represents a shift from Facebook's recent focus on groups and pages, which aimed to enhance content discovery and compete with platforms like TikTok.
Shift in focus
Facebook's evolution and the return to friend-centric content
Facebook has changed a lot over the years, adding features like Marketplace, Video, and Groups.
But, these updates have also contributed to the decline of friend-centric content on the platform.
The "Friends" tab will now include a dedicated feed for friends-related content.
You can access the new feature from your navigation bar on Facebook app or pin it for easy access.
User-centric approach
Meta's strategy to enhance user experience
Meta, Facebook's parent company, has been turning the platform into a "discovery engine" that mostly shows content from pages and accounts not followed by users.
The approach was deemed necessary for taking on TikTok. But, it resulted in discontent among users who missed posts from their real friends.
Now, to fix that, Meta is overhauling the "Friends" section of its app to only show friends' posts.