Facebook launches 'Friends' feed in Canada, ditching algorithm

Image: Meta

Facebook is rolling out a new "Friends" tab in Canada and the US, offering users a break from algorithmically curated content. The dedicated feed will exclusively display posts, stories, reels, and birthdays from your Facebook friends.

The move aims to recapture Facebook's original focus on connecting with friends, as stated in a company blog post: "the magic of friends has fallen away" amidst the platform's evolution.

The new "Friends" tab replaces the previous section that housed friend requests and suggestions. Users can access it via the navigation bar in the Facebook app and have the option to pin it for easy access through the app's settings.

This update comes as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg aims to bring back more "OG" Facebook experiences throughout the year. While the feed might show fewer recent posts for some, it promises a reprieve from sponsored content and random group posts that often dominate the main feed. This follows Facebook's recent addition of "Local" and "Explore" tabs, which offer even more content recommendations.

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