Facebook is Getting Rid of Community Chats

09/10/25
Source: Social Media Today – Latest News by Andrew Hutchinson. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Facebook Discontinues Group Chat Feature Amid Low Engagement

Facebook is removing its Community Chats feature due to low user interest. The feature, launched in 2022 to extend group discussions to Messenger, failed to resonate with most group members. This reflects a broader trend where users prefer to keep social interactions within the original platform rather than spreading conversations across multiple apps. Attempts to integrate more social features into messaging have struggled in Western markets, where users favor distinct apps for different purposes.

Optimixed’s Overview: Why Facebook is Phasing Out Group Chats and What It Means for Social Interaction

Background on Facebook’s Community Chats

Introduced in 2022, Facebook’s Community Chats aimed to bridge group discussions on Facebook with Messenger, encouraging more dynamic and real-time interaction among group members. The feature sought to tap into the growing popularity of messaging as a primary communication channel.

Reasons Behind the Feature’s Removal

  • Low Adoption: Most group members did not actively use Community Chats, indicating a lack of demand.
  • User Preferences: People joining Facebook groups generally expect to engage within the Facebook app itself rather than migrating chats to Messenger.
  • Distinct App Usage: Western users typically prefer separate apps for different communication types, unlike some Asian markets that favor multifunctional platforms.

Implications for Social and Messaging Platforms

This development reinforces the idea that messaging apps are primarily for close, personal communication with friends and family, while social platforms like Facebook are better suited for broader community and group interaction. Attempts to merge these functions have repeatedly faced challenges in Western markets. Facebook’s earlier removal of audio discussion rooms in 2023 further highlights the preference for keeping social engagement within familiar app boundaries.