Facebook has introduced a new “Friends” tab that provides a dedicated news feed featuring Stories, video Reels, and posts from users’ friends. This development allows users to filter out irrelevant suggestions that often clutter the main feed.
In a blog post, Meta explained that the creation of the Friends tab is a response to the evolving needs of users, aiming to enhance their experience with groups, videos, Facebook Marketplace, and more. According to a report by The Verge, this change reflects Facebook’s acknowledgment that its previous emphasis on algorithms and non-friend content has diverted from its original aim of fostering personal connections.
The previous iteration of the Friends tab included friend requests and suggestions for potential connections, but the revamped version focuses solely on posts from friends. This shift represents a significant concept in improving user experience, allowing individuals to view content shared by their friends without the influence of algorithms that dictate visibility.
Users can easily access the Friends tab from the navigation bar within the Facebook app and have the option to pin it to their navigation bar. To do this, users can tap on the three-bar icon, select the settings icon, and navigate to Settings > Tab bar to choose their preferred tabs.
Additionally, Facebook is reportedly planning to introduce more native features in the near future as part of Mark Zuckerberg’s initiative to return the platform to its original essence.
