Meta Introduces Messenger ‘Communities’ for Giant Group Chats
Meta has rolled out a new feature on Messenger that allows users to create massive group chats without the need for an associated Facebook page. These groups, known as “Communities,” can accommodate up to 5,000 people, regardless of whether they are part of the same Facebook group or not.
The introduction of Messenger “Communities” follows a similar feature that Meta introduced in 2022, which allowed Facebook group admins to create chatrooms akin to those found on Discord. However, this new type of chat is open to all users, enabling them to create groups for various purposes such as neighborhoods, schools, or events.
While the option to create Messenger “Communities” is not yet available to all users, Meta advises individuals to be mindful of the different privacy levels associated with these group chats compared to personal messages.
These updates to Messenger align it more closely with other messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Discord. In 2022, WhatsApp expanded its messaging capabilities to allow group admins to communicate with large numbers of people simultaneously, moving away from its traditional focus on private, one-on-one conversations.
Messaging has become a central focus for Meta’s other platforms as well, such as Instagram. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, has highlighted the significance of direct messages (DMs) in driving the platform’s growth, particularly among younger users. Instagram recently introduced the ability to send mass updates via DMs, known as “channels,” enabling creators to engage with their followers through announcements, updates, and interactive contests.
