Meta's new Forum app is coming for Reddit — and it shows

Meta has launched Forum, a new Reddit-style app for Facebook Groups that's now available on iOS. The standalone app features an AI-powered 'Ask' function for querying group discussions, marking Meta's latest attempt to spin core Facebook features into dedicated applications. According to Engadget and CNBC, the launch sent Reddit shares tumbling more than 5% on Friday.

What is Meta Forum and how does it work?

Forum displays a curated feed of conversations from Facebook Groups you're already part of. The app's standout feature is its AI-powered 'Ask' function, which lets you query discussions across your groups to find specific information or topics.

The app essentially takes the Facebook Groups experience and packages it in a Reddit-style interface. Instead of scrolling through Facebook's main feed, Forum focuses solely on group conversations, making it easier to follow community discussions without the distraction of other Facebook content.

This continues Meta's pattern of creating standalone apps for specific functions. The company has previously launched standalone apps for specific functions, including Threads for text-based posts.

iOS availability and global rollout plans

Forum is launching first on iOS, with no confirmed timeline for Android availability. Meta hasn't specified which countries have access, though new Meta apps typically roll out globally within weeks of their initial launch.

Meta has not announced a global rollout schedule for Forum.

Reddit feels the competitive pressure

Reddit's stock dropped more than 5% on Friday following news of Forum's launch. The decline adds to Reddit's challenging year, with shares down nearly 40% year-to-date as the platform faces increased competition from newer social platforms.

Forum directly targets Reddit's community-focused model by offering similar threaded discussions and topic-based organisation. The key difference is Forum's integration with Facebook's existing group infrastructure, giving Meta access to millions of established communities.

Forum's launch comes as social platforms add AI-powered discovery features to help users find relevant discussions.

Meta's standalone app strategy

A Meta spokesperson said the company 'tests new products publicly to see what people find useful.' This approach has produced mixed results — while some standalone apps gain traction, others like Facebook's Lasso video app were discontinued.

Forum represents Meta's attempt to compete more directly with specialised platforms rather than cramming everything into the main Facebook app. The strategy mirrors how Meta separated Messenger from Facebook and created standalone apps for different use cases.

Forum includes an AI-powered Ask feature for content discovery within group conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Meta Forum?

Meta Forum is a new standalone Reddit-style app designed specifically for Facebook Groups. It displays conversations from your Facebook Groups in a dedicated feed.

How does Meta Forum work?

The app shows a feed of conversations from Facebook Groups you're part of and includes an AI-powered 'Ask' feature to query group discussions and find specific information.

Is Meta Forum available on Android?

Currently, Meta Forum is launching first on iOS. No timeline has been announced for Android availability.

How has Reddit's stock reacted to Meta Forum's launch?

Reddit shares fell more than 5% on Friday following the Forum announcement, contributing to a nearly 40% year-to-date decline in the stock.

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