Meta has quietly released a new standalone app called ‘Forum’, designed to mimic the discussion boards of Reddit within the Facebook ecosystem. The app aims to provide deeper discussions and community spaces, with features like an AI-powered 'Ask' tab for questions and answers.

The launch follows previous attempts by Meta to create dedicated group apps, with the latest iteration being more focused on AI-driven moderation tools and user retention through localized conversations. This comes as part of a broader strategy at Meta to release multiple new apps driven by AI efficiencies, with Facebook's chief product officer suggesting they might aim for 50 new apps in the near future.

However, critics argue that these apps are often just copies of existing services, like Instagram’s ‘Instants’ which borrows from BeReal and Snapchat. The question remains: does humanity need more social media options or better versions of current ones?