Meta reintroduces a dedicated space for friend-focused content as part of its effort to make Facebook feel more personal and social again.
Meta is taking a step back to its roots by reintroducing more personal, connection-focused features to Facebook. In a move designed to bring back the platform’s original spirit of social networking, the company has launched a revamped Friends tab, rolling out first in the United States and Canada.
The update was announced via a blog post, with Meta outlining a broader plan to reintroduce several classic “OG” Facebook experiences throughout 2024.
A Return to Facebook’s Social Core
Facebook began as a platform built around personal connections. Over the years, it expanded into a multi-faceted social network encompassing features like Groups, Video, Marketplace, and more. While these tools offer utility and scale, many users feel that the platform’s original emphasis on friendships has taken a back seat.
To address this, Facebook is introducing a new Friends tab aimed at making content from real-life connections more visible and accessible.
What’s New in the Friends Tab?
The redesigned Friends tab serves as a centralized feed focused exclusively on your Facebook friends. Unlike the main feed—which mixes posts from groups, pages, ads, and suggested content—the Friends tab filters out the noise, surfacing only:
- Stories and Reels from friends
- Traditional posts (text, photo, video)
- Birthday reminders
- Friend requests
Previously, the Friends tab was primarily used to manage friend requests and view People You May Know suggestions. With this update, it becomes a more dynamic space dedicated to real-time social interaction.
The new Facebook Friends tab that makes it easier to connect with your friends
How to Access and Pin the Friends Tab
Initially, users can find the new Friends tab through the navigation bar on their home feed. It will also be available in the Bookmarks section of the app. For easier access, users can pin the tab by following these steps:
- Tap your profile picture in the Home feed
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Tab Bar
- Customize the bar and select Friends to pin it
What’s Next?
Meta says this is just the beginning. As part of its broader effort to make Facebook “feel more social,” the company plans to introduce additional features throughout the year that focus on fun, simplicity, and real connection.
The move reflects a growing trend among social platforms to re-emphasize authentic, friend-based interactions in a landscape increasingly dominated by algorithmic discovery and viral content.
