Meta rolls out “Communities” feature on Messenger

Meta has begun the global rollout of its new “Communities” feature on Messenger, the company confirmed to TechCrunch.

This feature aims to help organizations, schools, and other private groups communicate in a more organized and structured manner, following a similar introduction on WhatsApp in 2022.

Unlike previous features, Communities on Messenger allow users to connect without needing an associated Facebook Group.

Meta introduced Community Chats on Messenger in 2022 for real-time interaction within Facebook Groups, but the new Communities feature enables dedicated spaces for real-time communication directly on Messenger, independent of Facebook Groups.

The launch highlights Meta’s efforts to expand Messenger’s functionality and differentiate it from other messaging services like iMessage. It also indicates a move to integrate a broader social networking aspect into Messenger, facilitating direct community connections within the app.

Communities consolidate multiple group chats into one central hub, featuring a dedicated “Home” space for admins to share updates and announcements. Each Community can host up to 5,000 members through shareable invites, according to Meta.

The feature is versatile, catering to various groups such as organizations, schools, PTAs, neighbourhoods, and even friends with shared interests.

For instance, a neighbourhood Community can streamline communication on topics like events, security alerts, and trash pickup schedules. Similarly, a school community can facilitate discussions across different grades, allowing parents to join relevant conversations.

While similar to WhatsApp’s Communities, Messenger’s version has a unique aspect: it is connected to Facebook’s social graph.

This means Community builders on Messenger can invite Facebook friends and friends of friends, unlike WhatsApp, which requires phone numbers for invites.

Meta notes that Communities on Messenger are designed for more public conversations compared to Facebook Groups. All current and future Community members can view chat content, fostering an open and inclusive environment.

The new Communities feature is being rolled out to all users globally, enhancing Messenger’s role in social networking and community engagement.