Facebook Inc. has launched yet another app to make it easier for people with the same interests to communicate with each other. Called Facebook Groups, it’s another core feature of the popular social platform now spun off into an app. The new Groups app comes just weeks after Facebook launched Rooms, an app which also aims to bring like-minded people together. So what’s the difference between the two Facebook apps?

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Groups vs. Rooms

Facebook Rooms is an anonymous chat app that lets you create rooms for various topics and customize that room to your liking. Rooms doesn’t require you to connect your Facebook account, so you can maintain anonymity. You can choose whatever username you want for each room you create or join, so it is up to the user to keep their identity a secret or to unveil it.

If you’re a Facebook user, you are likely already familiar with Groups and may even belong to a couple of groups that range from topics, different sets of friends, family, or even a group for your favorite online game. Groups is quite useful in getting messages across all members easily. It is not an anonymous service like Rooms, as it utilizes the existing groups you belong to as well as present you with a list of groups that might be of interest to you.

Unlike Rooms which is a standalone app, Groups is connected with your Facebook account which means that, even if you are not using the Groups app, you can still access it in your Facebook mobile app and on your desktop.

Rooms is currently only available for iOS devices while Groups is available for both iOS and Android. Both apps are free to download.

How to get set up

Rooms

Download the Rooms app here and when it’s done, launch the app and you’ll be presented with a few quick tips on what to expect. Instead of tying your Facebook account to Rooms, the app asks you whether you have invites to certain rooms. If you select “no, I would like one”, you will be presented with an invite to a Room, which you need to take a screenshot of to complete your account creation. After that, you can now explore the recommended Rooms or create your own room.

Creating a room is just as easy as setting up your Rooms account. All you need to do is name your room, enter a description and choose a nickname for the room. Custom options include the ability to change the background color and wallpaper, set the controls (permissions) for that particular room and establish the room’s discoverability.

Groups

As for Groups, the is available here for iOS and Android and when it finishes downloading, simply launch it and it will guide you how to set it up. If your Facebook account is setup on your device, the app will ask you if you want to continue as the same user or use a different Facebook account. When you select “continue as existing user”, you will see tips as to how to use the app, as well as what you can expect such as group push notifications and filtering which groups have notifications turned on or off. The app shows you all the groups you currently belong to and in the Settings page, you can edit as to which groups can send you push notifications. You can use the app to create new groups, as well as discover groups that may be of interest to you.

Different apps for different needs

Though both apps’ purpose is to connect like-minded people, the apps are meant for different situations. While Rooms doesn’t require anonymity, it can be used as a platform for sharing thoughts without revealing one’s identity. Groups, on the other hand, is a social management tool for disseminating information to a set collection of people, like TV show fans or school study groups. Now that Facebook is spinning off more services into separate apps, you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

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