Facebook Groups now have Group Chats and Audio Calls! This new feature allows users to communicate with each other in a more informal setting, without having to use the Facebook Messenger app. Group chats can be used to discuss important topics, plan meetings, and more. Audio calls can be used to connect with friends who are also online, for a more personal experience. To start a chat or call in a Facebook Group, click on the “Group Chat” button at the top of the group page. Then type in your message or call number. If you want to make an audio call, select “Audio Call” from the drop-down list and enter your phone number. If you have any questions about this new feature, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
Facebook is now testing a new sidebar on the left side of the mobile apps, which displays all the groups you have joined and recent activity (such as new posts and messages). You also have the option to ‘pin’ groups, which moves them to the top of the list. The sidebar looks a lot like what you’d see in Discord, Slack, and other group-based messaging services.
That’s not all, though. Facebook also now allows Groups to create chat channels and voice channels, alongside the typical feed that Group members can post in. The text chats are accessible in both Facebook Groups and Facebook Messenger, functioning like Telegram channels or IRC rooms. Audio channels function like group calls that anyone can join or leave at any time, similar to voice channels in Discord.
The new functionality shows Facebook is attempting to mimic popular services like Discord and Telegram, which have been rapidly growing in popularity for the past few years. That could help draw people back to Facebook (or keep people from switching), but it remains to be seen how many Groups are interested in managing live chats. Discord has had problems keeping up with spam and abuse on popular servers, and Facebook is still experimenting with changes to Groups to cut down on rapidly-spreading misinformation.
Source: Facebook News
