Facebook is simplifying how you connect with friends and family. A new “Friends” tab within the Facebook app prioritizes content from your friends list, filtering out posts from pages and people you don’t follow. This feature aims to bring back the original focus of Facebook – fostering connections with loved ones.
Meta announced this change in a blog post on Thursday, highlighting the return of classic Facebook features throughout the year. The Friends tab offers a dedicated space for posts, stories, videos (Reels), recent birthdays, friend requests, and suggestions for people you may know. This rollout initially targets users in the U.S. and Canada.
Accessing the Friends Tab
The Friends tab is conveniently located in the bottom tab bar of your Home feed. If you don’t see it immediately, you can easily customize your tab bar.
Friends tab feed on Facebook.
- Method 1: Tap your profile picture in the Home feed, navigate to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and finally select Tab bar. Choose the Friends tab to pin it.
- Method 2: Long-press the tab bar and tap Customize your tab bar. Select the Friends tab.
A Return to Facebook’s Roots
This update mirrors similar features implemented on other social media platforms. Threads introduced a Following tab shortly after its 2023 launch, and X (formerly Twitter) offers similar feed organization. However, Facebook’s Friends tab signifies a deliberate shift back to Mark Zuckerberg’s original vision: a platform centered on connecting with friends and family.
Focusing on Personal Connections
By prioritizing personal connections, Facebook aims to enhance user experience and engagement. This dedicated space for friends’ updates streamlines content consumption, making it easier to stay up-to-date with loved ones.
This renewed focus on personal connections aligns with broader trends in social media, emphasizing meaningful interactions over algorithmic feeds. The Friends tab offers a welcome change for users seeking a more curated and personal Facebook experience.
