Facebook today announced that it is introducing new features for Facebook groups, including “channels” that allow users to connect with each other in smaller settings. Admins can create channels to connect with their groups in more casual environments within their communities to have more focused discussions.
There are three types of channels that admins can create: chat, audio, and feed. Community chat channels can be used as a place where people can message, collaborate and talk about specific topics in a more real-time way in both Facebook groups and Messenger. After you create a chat, you can name it and decide if you want it to be invite-only. When you join a chat, you can send messages and receive notifications. If the chat fills up and you are inactive, you may need to rejoin.
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The new community feed channels are a way for members to connect when it suits them. Facebook says admins can organize their communities around topics within the group so members can connect around more specific interests. Groups also display suggested feeds that you can join.
Finally, community audio channels let admins and members jump in and out of audio conversations in real time. Facebook notes that although audio channels start with audio, people can turn their camera on at any time.
“Administrators can start creating channels to connect with their groups in smaller, more casual environments where they can have deeper discussions about common interests or organize their communities around topics of different formats,” said Maria Smith, the vice president. president of communities at Facebook, in a statement.
Facebook also announced that it is testing a new sidebar that will help users find their favorite groups faster. The sidebar shows your groups and the latest activity, including new posts. You also have the option to pin your favorite groups to the top of the sidebar so that they appear first. The sidebar also allows users to discover new groups or create their own groups.
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The social media giant is also improving the way each group is organized through a new menu, which will include things like events, stores, and a variety of channels to make it easier for users to connect with others based on the topic they’re talking about. like it.
The launch of the new features comes as Facebook recently introduced new features to help Facebook group administrators keep their communities safe, manage interactions, and reduce misinformation. Most notably, the company has added the ability for administrators to automatically reject incoming messages found to contain false information by third-party auditors. Facebook groups have made headlines in recent years for their growing use by those seeking to spread malicious content and misinformation, and the new features aimed to address some of these issues and give administrators more control over their communities.