The icons at the bottom of the Facebook app represent the main tabs and features that users can access. They allow you to quickly navigate between different parts of Facebook, like your News Feed, Messages, Notifications and Menu.
The icons have remained largely consistent over the years, with a few changes. Here’s a quick overview of what each icon means:
News Feed
The News Feed icon shows a big blue ‘f’ on a white background. This takes you to your News Feed, where you see the latest posts, photos, videos and updates from your friends, family, groups and pages you follow.
The News Feed is the core of the Facebook experience. It’s personalized for you based on the things you’ve Liked, groups you’ve joined, and more. Tap this icon to see all your latest updates.
Messenger
The Messenger icon has a blue chat bubble with a white lightning bolt inside. This opens the Messenger app where you can text chat with friends and contacts.
Messenger allows you to have real-time conversations, send stickers and photos, video call and more. It’s one of the most widely used messaging apps globally.
Notifications
The Notifications icon is a red speech bubble with an exclamation point. This shows you all your latest notifications from Facebook.
Notifications alert you to friend requests, messages, tags, reactions to your posts and more activities. The number on the icon shows how many unseen notifications you have.
Menu
The Menu icon has three horizontal lines, resembling the ‘hamburger menu’ icon seen in many apps. Tap it to access shortcuts for different Facebook features.
The Menu lets you quickly jump to sections like your profile, Friends list, Groups, Watch video, Marketplace and more. It provides an easy way to navigate the many parts of Facebook.
Shortcuts
The remaining bottom icons are ‘shortcuts’ that take you directly to some frequently used Facebook features:
– Groups: See all your joined Groups and discover new ones.
– Watch: Browse Facebook Watch videos from creators and publishers.
– Gaming: Check out your Facebook Gaming profile and stream/play games.
– Marketplace: Buy and sell items locally on Facebook Marketplace.
These shortcuts vary based on region and when Facebook introduces or retires features. But they aim to provide quick access to the most popular parts of Facebook.
History of the Facebook Bottom Navigation
Since Facebook first launched in 2004, the navigation icons have gone through several iterations. Here’s a brief history:
Original Web Version (2004 – 2006)
The original Facebook website had a simple left hand navigation menu with text links to key sections. There were no icons. Users saw links like ‘Home’, ‘Profile’, ‘Friends’ and ‘Inbox’.
First Bottom Bar (2007 – 2010)
When Facebook introduced its first iPhone app in 2007, it added a bottom bar navigation with 4 icons:
– Home
– Inbox
– Notifications
– Menu
This set the initial template for bottom navigation that still remains today. The web version adopted this bottom bar in 2008.
Simplified (2011 – 2013)
In 2011, Facebook simplified the bottom bar to just 3 icons:
– Home
– Messages
– Notifications
The Menu link was retired. This reflected Facebook’s focus on its core features.
Modern Bottom Navigation (2014 – present)
In 2014, Facebook introduced the now-familiar 5 tab bottom bar:
– News Feed
– Messenger
– Notifications
– Menu
– Shortcut (initially Groups)
This navigation has remained largely unchanged since, with only slight icon updates. The consistency has helped billions of users easily navigate the app.
How the Icons Reflect Facebook’s Strategy
Facebook’s bottom navigation bar represents the company’s strategic priorities:
Keeping users engaged in the app
Having icons for Notifications and News Feed promotes constant engagement. It’s easy to check for new notifications or scroll your News Feed.
| Icon | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Notifications | See all your latest notifications |
| News Feed | View updated News Feed posts |
Encouraging messaging
The dedicated Messenger icon reflects Facebook’s push into messaging. They want users messaging more than posting publicly.
Promoting new features
Shortcut icons like Gaming, Watch and Marketplace help highlight Facebook’s newest features.
Providing core utility
Icons like Menu give users easy access to common tasks like managing settings and bookmarks.
Design Best Practices
Facebook’s bottom navigation illustrates some key design principles:
Consistency
The icons and layout have stayed consistent for almost a decade. This familiarity helps users navigate intuitively.
Emphasizing priorities
Icons like News Feed and Messages reflect what Facebook wants people doing most.
Utilities and shortcuts
The Menu and Shortcuts provide easy access to utility features and new products.
Notification cues
The numbered Notification alerts attract users’ attention.
Concise labeling
The icons have associated text labels, but these are kept extremely short (1-2 words). This keeps the bar clean and scannable.
The Future of Facebook Navigation
As Facebook grows with new features like Reels, business messaging and VR, its navigation may need to evolve.
Some possible changes include:
– Adding more shortcut icons as new features emerge.
– Using a tab bar or bottom drawer to hide lesser-used utility links.
– Grouping notifications and messages under one icon.
– Updating icons to reflect Meta’s new brand focus.
– Personalizing icons based on user interests like Gaming or Marketplace.
– Implementing gestures like swipe or long press to access more options.
Regardless of specific changes, the bottom bar will likely remain a key part of the Facebook mobile experience. The simplicity and ease of tapping icons at the bottom suits smartphone usage.
Conclusion
The bottom navigation icons on Facebook provide an easy way to move between key features on mobile devices. They distill the vast capabilities of Facebook down to just five choices.
The icons have evolved over time while retaining familiarity. Facebook will likely continue iterating them to promote engagement, highlight new products and suit emerging user habits.
But the core icons like News Feed, Messages and Notifications seem unlikely to change. They represent the foundation of the Facebook app. The intuitive bottom bar converts the immense feature set of Facebook into one easily navigated app.