Facebook brings back ‘friends and family first’ experience with new update

WEB DESK: Facebook has introduced a significant change to its news feed, shifting the focus back to personal connections.

Over time, users have found their feeds cluttered with ads, clickbait, and algorithm-driven content, making it harder to keep up with posts from friends and family. Now, the platform is making adjustments to bring those updates front and centre again.

A newly launched “Friends” tab will now display posts, stories, reels, and birthday reminders exclusively from a user’s friends.

By reducing recommended content and sponsored posts, Facebook aims to make it easier for people to stay connected with those who matter most. The feature has already been introduced in the US and Canada.

In a blog post, Meta acknowledged that Facebook had evolved to include groups, videos, and marketplace features, but in doing so, the core experience of keeping in touch with friends had taken a backseat. This update is meant to realign the platform with its original purpose.

How to access the “Friends” tab

To start using the new feature:

Open the Facebook app and tap your profile picture.

Select Settings & Privacy, then go to Settings.

Scroll down to Tab Bar and tap Customise the Bar.

Pin the “Friends” tab for quick access.

The change is part of a broader effort by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to improve the user experience by refining content visibility. In addition to the “Friends” tab, Facebook has also introduced “Local” and “Explore” tabs to help users discover content beyond their immediate circle.

By refocusing on real-life connections, Facebook hopes to make the news feed more meaningful and engaging for its users.

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