Behind the Velvet Ropes of Facebook’s Private Groups - The New York Times

Excerpt from a tour of Facebook groups (which are also at the center of Workplace by Facebook)

"My catalyst came in June when Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, announced that instead of trying to “make the world more open and connected,” as it had in the past, Facebook would aim to “give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together,” in part by placing a greater emphasis on groups. 

Private groups have existed on Facebook for years. But the decision to emphasize them now — at a time when Facebook’s cultural and political influence is being carefully scrutinized — is a fascinating shift for a social network that spent years encouraging its users to share as much information as they could, as publicly as possible."

Behind the Velvet Ropes of Facebook’s Private Groups - The New York Times