Facebook is refocusing on personal connections with a new “Friends” tab. This feature filters out algorithm-driven recommendations and shows only updates from your friends. Currently rolling out in the US and Canada, the tab will display your friends’ stories, reels, posts, and birthdays, making it easier to stay connected without distractions from suggested content.
Facebook announced the change in a blog post: “Over the years, Facebook evolved to meet changing needs and created best-in-class experiences across Groups, Video, Marketplace and more, but the magic of friends has fallen away.” This update attempts to restore that personal touch, allowing users to focus on the content that matters most.
How to access the friends-only feed
Previously, the “Friends” tab was home to friend requests and friend suggestions. Now, it has been repurposed into a dedicated space where you can see posts from people you are connected with. This update might be a welcome change if your main feed has become crowded with sponsored content and posts from random groups.
Users can access the new Friends tab from the navigation bar within the Facebook app. To keep it handy, you can pin it to your navigation bar by following these steps:
- Tap the three-bar menu in the Facebook app.
- Select the settings icon.
- Go to Settings > Tab bar.
- Choose the tabs you want to pin for quick access.
By making these adjustments, Facebook aims to provide a more personal experience, allowing you to engage with content from people you genuinely care about.
More ‘classic’ Facebook experiences are coming soon
This move is part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision to bring back what many users loved about Facebook in its early days. The company has hinted at introducing more “OG” (original) Facebook experiences throughout the year, aiming to make the platform feel more familiar and less dominated by algorithm-driven content.
In 2023, Facebook introduced “Local” and “Explore” tabs, increasing user content recommendations. However, the new Friends tab addresses growing concerns that the platform has strayed too far from its original purpose. By focusing on actual friendships, Facebook hopes to keep users engaged more meaningfully.
As the update continues rolling out, users in other regions will likely gain access soon. Whether this change will bring back a sense of nostalgia or improve user experience remains to be seen, but for those frustrated by an overwhelming main feed, the friends-only tab may offer some relief.
