Facebook announces redesign focused on expanding groups feature

Facebook on Tuesday announced that it had launched the latest redesign of its platform, including its Messenger app, saying that it will be simpler and faster for users to navigate.

In a blog post, the company wrote that it was redesigning its news feed to include more content from Facebook groups to which the user belongs, and will allow content from groups to be shared directly to the feed for the first time.

{mosads}Users will also reportedly see recommendations for groups to join in other areas of the platform including the marketplace and gaming tabs.

“We’ve completely redesigned the Groups tab and made discovery even better. The tab now shows a personalized feed of activity across all your groups. And the new discovery tool with improved recommendations lets you quickly find groups you might be interested in,” Facebook’s blog post reads.

The company’s Messenger app, which allows users to send and receive text and video messages, has also received a redesign meant to streamline the app’s performance, according to the blog.

The redesign’s rollout coincides with Facebook’s annual conference, dubbed F8, which began Tuesday in San Jose, Calif.

“Mark Zuckerberg opened the two-day event with a keynote on how we’re building a more privacy-focused social platform — giving people spaces where they can express themselves freely and feel connected to the people and communities that matter most,” Facebook said in a statement accompanying the blog post.

“He shared how this is a fundamental shift in how we build products and run our company,” it continues.

Facebook has battled criticism for months over its handling of user data following a damaging admission that millions of users had their information obtained without their knowledge or consent by Cambridge Analytica, a data firm that worked for the Trump campaign in 2016.