Facebook today announced that it will soon launch a major refresh of its core social networking service dubbed FB5.

“FB5 is a fresh new design for Facebook that’s simpler, faster, more immersive and puts your communities at the center,” the Facebook announcement notes. “Overall, we’ve made it easier to find what you’re looking for and get to your most-used features. People will start seeing some of these updates in the Facebook app right away, and the new desktop site will come in the next few months.”

To my eyes, the new Facebook looks almost like a Google Material Design-style refresh, with lots of white space and clean iconography and borders.

All Facebook is really saying right now is that the new design is focused specifically on Groups as part of the service’s move to private sharing over public sharing. Groups is a Facebook community feature that lets people connect virtually. To this end, Facebook will make it easier to find groups throughout the user experience and enhance the community feeling.

There will also be new shopping features and new functionality aimed at helping users connect with new friends from their communities who share their interests, Facebook says. A new Facebook Dating feature called Secret Crush will even help people “explore potential romantic relationships within their own extended circle of friends.”

Facebook FB5 will rollout throughout 2019 on desktop/web and mobile.

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