New Facebook App Might Save Your Social Life

You've got plenty of friends — some of whom you actually see outside of social networking sites. They're fun, they're great listeners, and they're well-versed in every last sordid detail of your rather complicated love life. But, when it comes down to it, are they as passionate as you are about, say, beat boxing, or the finer points of vegan cuisine?

We all have niche interests that may leave our IRL pals stupefied, bored senseless, or nodding politely with a tight smile as we wax on for the millionth time about feminist language in the works of Jane Austen. And, that's where Facebook's new app comes in.

Rooms, created by Facebook's Creative Labs for iOS, harks back to ye olden days when people used the Internet to chat on forums according to their interests. With Rooms, users can outsource needs for friendly conversations about cycling and slam poetry by creating and customizing a "room" for their pet topic. Like-minded folks can then join the "room" and discuss to their hearts' content. This, in turn, frees your disinterested pals up to talk about important things — like Lena Dunham's hair, and whether or not they have Ebola.

Rooms also offers anonymity by letting users choose pseudonyms. Because, hey, maybe you don't want the whole world knowing that you had a specific sexual-health question (sensitive topics are featured), or that you're into ornithology. No judgment. (USA Today)