FACEBOOK TESTS TIKTOK-STYLE FULL-SCREEN VIDEO FEED

Facebook head Tom Alison announced the platform will begin testing a "reimagined experience" designed to keep users engaged as rivals like TikTok capture younger audiences. The redesign prioritizes full-screen video as the default interface when users open the app. Meta has not released details on the experimental interface's appearance or functionality. The company is taking a measured approach by rolling out the changes to limited user groups before any wider deployment. The move reflects mounting pressure on Meta's flagship platform. TikTok's algorithmic feed and short-form video format have proven highly effective at capturing user attention and engagement. Facebook, once the social media standard, has struggled to retain younger users in recent years. This redesign represents a significant shift in Facebook's strategy. The platform built its dominance on a chronological feed of posts from friends and followed pages. The new approach mimics TikTok's discovery-based model, which surfaces content based on user behavior rather than existing social connections. Meta has attempted various features to compete with TikTok, including Instagram Reels. However, these efforts have been secondary to each platform's core experience. The Facebook redesign suggests Meta is willing to fundamentally alter its primary interface to remain competitive. The timing of the announcement comes as social media usage patterns continue shifting toward video content. Meta's advertising business depends on user engagement, making retention critical to the company's financial performance. Details on user rollout timing and geographic availability remain unclear. Meta will likely monitor engagement metrics closely during testing before deciding whether to expand the redesigned experience to the broader user base.