Meta has quietly launched a new feature on Facebook Messenger called Communities, allowing users to create and join dedicated spaces for real-time communication, independent of Facebook Groups. This launch follows the introduction of a similar Communities feature on WhatsApp in 2022.
What Are Messenger Communities?
Messenger Communities are dedicated spaces within Facebook Messenger where users can engage in real-time communication without needing to be part of a Facebook Group. This distinguishes them from the existing Community Chats, which are tied to Facebook Groups and were launched in 2022.
Key Features of Messenger Communities
- Dedicated Home Space: Each Community has a Home space where admins can share updates and announcements.
- Large Member Capacity: Up to 5,000 people can join a Community through shareable invites.
- Multiple Group Chats: Communities can host multiple group chats on various topics, facilitating organized and topic-specific discussions.
- Visibility: All members can see all chat content within the Community.
Differences from WhatsApp Communities
While the functionality is similar to WhatsApp Communities, Messenger Communities leverage Facebook’s social graph. This means you can invite people to join based on their Facebook profiles, without needing their phone numbers, which is required for WhatsApp.
How to Use Messenger Communities
- Create a Community: Open Facebook Messenger and navigate to the Communities section to start creating your Community.
- Invite Members: Use shareable invites to add up to 5,000 members based on their Facebook profiles.
- Manage Home Space: As an admin, you can post updates and announcements in the Community’s Home space.
- Organize Group Chats: Set up multiple group chats within the Community to facilitate discussions on various topics.
Global Rollout
The Communities feature is currently being rolled out to all Messenger users globally. This addition provides a new way for people to connect and communicate on Messenger, enhancing the platform’s functionality and user experience.
Messenger Communities offer a fresh way to engage with others on the platform, providing a flexible and organized method for real-time communication. Whether you’re looking to gather friends, organize events, or discuss specific topics, this new feature expands the capabilities of Facebook Messenger.
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