Facebook Groups App Hands-On – Surprisingly Useful

Facebook has seemingly gone through a switch in mobile strategy lately. The first sign was the separation of its Messenger app from the main Facebook app on mobile devices, a move that has caused an uproar among its users. Later it launched Rooms, an app that allows users to gather around a common interest, without requiring them to disclose their real identity. Now a third app was launched, called Groups, that offers users a way to keep up with their various, well, Facebook groups. The new app was launched this week.

As a long time Facebook user – I have created my account in November 2007, almost exactly seven years ago – I have joined or have been added to a series of various groups. Some of them were useful – classified ads from the region I live in, groups gathering around common interests (like movies, the 1980s and local produce available at farmers’ markets). Some of them were not, though – spam-infested groups with thousands of members added without their consent, used by self-important bloggers to try to grow their reach. Some of them I have left, others I have muted, and most of them I have forgotten over the years.

When I downloaded and installed the new Facebook Groups app, I was genuinely surprised by how many groups I am a member of. Over 20, and half of them I don’t even remember joining. The Facebook homepage does not display a complete list of groups, and its “Manage your groups” interface is – let’s face it – not the most usable one they have created. The new app is a welcome addition to the services of the social giant, offering me the ability to finally leave the groups I don’t want to be a member in for good, and keep up with the loads of updates other members post every day, and all this through an easy to use, clear interface. I think this will be the one Facebook app I will use every day…