I left Facebook sometime in 2015 because I felt like I was too young for the platform. I’d largely replaced it with Instagram, anyway. However, I’ve recently found myself drawn back to the platform as an active user, all thanks to Facebook Groups.
Facebook is Filled With Awesome Niche Communities
If you’ve never joined a private Facebook Group, you’re seriously missing out. There’s a near-endless supply of Facebook Groups that range from off-the-rails silly to passionate hobbyist groups with members who genuinely help each other. Some groups are just for entertaining trashposting within their niche (e.g., If ya squint it’s mint pokes fun at poorly executed DIY jobs). Other groups are more serious in nature and focus on creating a genuine community that shares a specific hobby, such as DIY Guitar Builders.
The great thing about Facebook is that it’s absolutely massive. With nearly three billion monthly active users, you can find highly specific and localized groups that still manage to attract thousands of members. For example, there are groups for particular car models where members buy and sell parts and share information, which is invaluable to me because I drive an old car.
You can also find groups for local sports clubs and niche sports, professions, music production for niche genres, cooking, and even hyper-specific interests like medieval re-enactments. Facebook Groups allow you to find your tribe and meet new friends, both online and in person, no matter what kind of hobby you have. I frankly feel like this was the original intent of how Facebook was meant to be used.
Facebook and I Matured Together
I still remember the day I first signed up for Facebook, way back in 2008. It slowly replaced MSN Messenger in my circles, everyone was friends with everyone on Facebook, and I obsessed over the poke feature. My feed was mostly filled with posts from friends and the occasional Facebook Page post, but as time passed, my feed slowly turned into a news and advertising platform with little value, which is why I stopped using it. I never stopped using Facebook Messenger, though, because the app was already engrained deep into my everyday life.
However, many things have changed over time, and while Facebook is still stuffed with ads and now emphasizes videos and games, that’s not what I use the platform for. My feed primarily consists of Facebook Group posts that are not only relevant but also informative and entertaining.
More Intimate Than Reddit
One can’t help but wonder why I’m opting for Facebook Groups when subreddits exist. Although I occasionally use Reddit, I don’t get the same sense of belonging that I have in Facebook Groups. Reddit is mostly anonymous, so there are far too many unfiltered, distasteful comments under every other post.
The semi-anonymous nature of Facebook Groups is what makes them such a comfortable virtual space to be in. If I have a question that I can’t find the answer to from a quick Google search, I’ll ask it in a Group, and there’s a good chance that I’ll find the answer. The Facebook Groups I’m a member of have strict administration, so trolls are not an issue. Also, while Reddit is a huge site, its user base is nowhere close to Facebook’s, so niche groups end up drawing way more members than niche subreddits.
Joined as a Joke, Stayed for the Fun
I admit it: I’ve joined several random Facebook Groups just because I thought the group name was funny. I even joined a popular welding group that popped up as recommended a couple of years ago, even though I have zero knowledge about welding. I stayed there because the photos and comments were surprisingly entertaining. Another fun group is We Pretend It’s 2007-2012 Internet, where members post old memes and discuss hot topics of the time.
Although Facebook isn’t perfect, Facebook Groups have changed my perception of niche online communities to the point that I rarely use Reddit anymore. Groups are a great place for killing time, especially after the algorithm catches wind and starts recommending cool groups to join. If you’re looking for a place to discuss your hobby or just want to be a member of a community, give Facebook Groups a try.
