Facebook has a history of separating specific features from its mobile app to make stand-alone apps. The social network first removed Messenger from the Facebook app to the consternation of many users. Then it created a Groups app and today, it's releasing the Events app.
Facebook says more than 100 million people use Facebook events every day. By creating a new app specifically for Events, Facebook hopes it'll be easier for users to find local events and to keep track of invites from friends. There's even an interactive map for visually browsing events around you.
But Facebook Events isn't just a place to discover things to do. It also serves as a calendar application, continuing Facebook's strategy of embedding itself into every aspect of your life. You can import events from Google Calendar and iCloud to make Events your default calendar app on your phone.
Monetizing its apps
So why does Facebook keep separating its features into separate apps? The biggest reason is to make money.
With Facebook Messenger, the company introduced chatbots to curate your news and to send your friends money. Just a couple of days ago, Facebook announced that you'll be able to shop for and buy things from the Shopify bot.
With Events, it's easy to imagine Facebook selling its users tickets to concerts and other events nearby, though the app doesn't currently do that.
If you're ready to live in Facebook's brave new world, you can download the Events app for iPhone from the App Store. Android users will have to wait, but Facebook says the Android app is "coming soon."
Top image credit: Facebook | Screenshot
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