Facebook’s New AI Photo Feature Aims to Boost Personal Sharing

Facebook is rolling out a new AI-powered feature designed to encourage users to share more personal photos and videos from their camera rolls. The platform will use artificial intelligence to scan devices and identify “shareable moments” hidden among screenshots, receipts, and random photos. The feature will also recommend AI enhancements and suggest collections for Stories, helping users discover content they may have overlooked or forgotten about.

Addressing the Sharing Decline

The feature arrives as social media personal sharing has significantly declined. Research shows that 61% of U.S. adults have become more selective about what they post, citing criticism, privacy concerns, and reduced enjoyment of social media as primary reasons. Users have increasingly shifted toward private messaging groups and intimate DM circles, retreating from public posting due to concerns about toxicity, misinformation, and ad saturation.

Privacy Remains Opt-In

Facebook is emphasizing that the feature is entirely optional and will not scan or upload personal images without explicit user permission. The company also highlights how the tool polishes images and creates collages, removing the need for design skills. The feature is currently available in the U.S. and Canada, with expansion to additional regions planned.

While Facebook’s initiative reflects Meta’s broader push to reclaim its position as a platform for genuine friend and family connections, skeptics question whether enhanced photo discovery will meaningfully reverse declining personal sharing trends. The company appears undeterred, betting that removing friction from content creation could encourage users to post more frequently despite lingering concerns about privacy and judgment on public feeds.