Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge
Facebook is announcing a host of updates to its platform today, many of which focus on pushing users outside of their social bubble of friends and family.
Among the updates are new tabs being added to Facebook that are meant to surface more content for users, including recommendations based on a person’s location. A new “Local” tab will collect content from other Facebook surfaces like the resale platform Marketplace, local groups, and events — essentially what sounds like Facebook’s version of Nextdoor. The Local tab is being tested in 10 US cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Austin, Texas.
Facebook will also begin testing an “Explore” tab, which sounds similar to the Instagram feature of the same name: a personalized…