Additionally, the new app brings some great new features to Facebook Events that would have been difficult to squeeze into the main app. If you’re an Evite user, there has never been a better time to check out Facebook as a sensible alternative.
Choose Your Interests
Right off the bat, Facebook’s Events app wants me to sign in with Facebook and for the first time choose my interests. Events already shapes what you see in a way that Facebook doesn’t. The categories of interests are:
MusicFood and DrinkSports and RecreationArt and FilmBooks and LiteratureCausesComedyCommunityGamesReligion and SpiritualityShoppingHealth and WellnessHome and GardenNetworkingParties and NightlifeTheater and DanceFreeFamily Friendly
Clearly, Facebook has a wide breadth of options. In my experience though, selecting interests didn’t seem to have a huge impact on the events Facebook showed me.
Discover Events All Around You
What is much more noticeably different is the focus. Events on Facebook’s website and app always primarily captured what friends were up to. You can check out their birthdays, what events they’re interested in and your own event list. Events on its own focuses much more on what is happening in the community. You can see everything from every category regardless of your selected interests or filter by interest and date. Plus it shows what your friends are going to or might be going to. When you mark something as interested, it shows up in the calendar tab so it’s on hand. You can always just fully RSVP later on. This Facebook calendar also integrates with your other iCloud calendars if you want, so you can see everything from one app. Tap the Settings icon to enable this. It really opened my eyes to just how much goes on around me that I don’t know about it. I’m surrounded by plays, concerts, comedy shows, charity events, classes and seminars, club meetings and a lot more.
Perks of Facebook Minus the News Feed
Perhaps the best part about Facebook Events is that it caters to everyone who wants nothing to do with the News Feed. Facebook recognized that some of its features could stand alone among its users. It’s tedious to have to open Facebook, see the News Feed first, then figure out how to navigate to something like Messenger or Events. The Events app takes you straight to what you’re looking for. You don’t need to mess around with photos and status updates if you just want to see what’s going on. In fact, you never have to use the full social network side of Facebook ever again. Use it as an event finder and planner with this app. Events is just far better off as its own app. Facebook is able to put more useful features into it, spruce up the design and make discovery very easy. Facebook Events is available free for iOS and coming soon for Android.