Some of us, to be honest open the Facebook app every day, without noticing that we use the same features without thinking. You scroll, you like, you comment, and sometimes you post a photo or a short video. That is just the usual routine for us. We do not notice things that are hidden in plain sight. Facebook links you to other Meta products that can make your life easier. Most people ignore them because they assume they are complicated, or they think they are only for big brands, while most people do not even know they are there. In this article, I will show you three of those quiet products. You are likely to have seen their names around. I will explain what each product does, where to find them, and how to use them.
Let us start with Edits.
Edits is where you can be making your photos and videos look better before you post. Think of it as a built in creative toolkit. You can trim a clip, crop a picture, add text, place stickers, adjust brightness, tweak the audio, or apply simple filters. Quite an eye catch. The tools are not heavy, and they are designed for quick polishing, so you do not need a separate app just to fix light or remove a shaky start on a reel. It saves time and storage and keeps the quality steady because you avoid exporting and reuploading through many steps. Most people have an idea but delay posting because the file needs work. Maybe the video is too long, or maybe the picture is dark, or maybe you want to add captions so your audience can understand you without sound. Edits lets you solve those problems in the same spot where you already post. The flow becomes record, edit, publish, instead of record, look for another app, find space, export, upload, and then publish. That shorter flow reduces friction, so you share more often, and consistency improves.
Where to find Edits
Open the Facebook app, tap to create a post, and add a photo or video. You will see editing options appear before you hit publish. Play with them. Cut the first three seconds if you hesitated. Brighten the background. Add clean text with a call to action. If you are posting to a Page, try the layout tools to combine clips into one short piece.
How to use Edits
You can use text overlays to introduce yourself in the first two seconds. People scroll fast, and text helps them know what they will get. Add captions to spoken videos so your message still lands when their phone is on silent. Try trimming your video if it’s too long. Most casual videos can lose five to ten seconds and become stronger. Use crop to reframe faces and products. Export in the platform’s recommended aspect ratio so your post fills the screen neatly.
Now let us talk about Threads.
Threads is meta’s text first social app. It looks like a clean conversation feed where people post short thoughts, links, photos, or videos, and then discuss them in replies. It was built by the Instagram team, and you can sign in with your Instagram account, but Facebook shows it to you because it is part of the same family. Many Facebook users do not realize how useful it can be. Threads is lighter than Facebook, less noisy, and great for quick ideas. If you enjoy writing captions or sharing helpful tips, you will feel at home.
Why Threads matters for regular people
You do not need perfect pictures to speak on Threads, you just need to use your keyboard. That makes it friendly for teachers, writers, coaches, and anyone who likes helpful lists. You can post a thread of tips, answer questions, and point people to your longer content. When you post consistently, strangers who like your topics can find you through replies and reposts without needing to follow first.
How to use threads
Think of Threads as your brainstorming room and Facebook as your storefront. Post quick drafts or daily advice on Threads. When a post resonates, turn it into a full Facebook reel or a Page article. Share a link back to your Facebook group for deeper discussion. If you run a small brand, announce product drops on Threads and direct buyers to your Facebook shop. The two apps support each other.
Related Article: Three Facebook Products People Don’t Know About: Edits, Threads, and Free Basics
Now for Free Basics
Free Basics is a service that gives people free access to a set of lightweight websites without using paid data. It is part of Meta’s effort to reduce barriers for people who are new to the internet. In some countries, mobile networks partner with Free Basics so users can open selected sites for news, health, jobs, education, and basic communication even when they are out of data. Pages load with simple layouts and limited images so they open fast and stay affordable for the network.
Why Free Basics matters
Data is still very expensive for many, a lot of families. Students may have to choose between buying data and paying other bills. Free Basics offers a bridge. It is not the full internet, but it opens a door. You can read an article about malaria prevention, check a job listing, look up market prices, or send a simple message. In an emergency, that free doorway can help you find a clinic, a helpline, or a piece of official advice without delay.
Where to find Free Basics
If Free Basics is available on your network, you can open it through a dedicated entry point in your browser or via a link surfaced from Facebook. The interface lists partner sites by category. Click, read, and navigate. Video is limited. Large downloads are blocked. Think of it as a text forward experience. If a site tries to push heavy files, you will be asked to leave the free zone, so you control your costs.
So you can start your idea on Threads in a short post. Carefully watch the comment section. If your audience ask for details, draft a two minute video script. Record on your phone in a quiet corner. Open Facebook, and use Edits to edit, of course. Add captions, overlay one clear headline, publish to your Page. Add a short guide as text for people using Free Basics who may not stream video. Offer a downloadable checklist later for users with full data. Build a rhythm that fits your week so it stays easy.
The three products are:
Ideas for students
It can summarize lecture notes into five point Threads posts each evening. On weekends, you can pick one post and turn it into a micro lesson video using Edits. Share it in a campus group. If some of your classmates do not have data, paste the key points as plain text so they can read via Free Basics. You can become the friend who helps everyone pass. The Messiah they have been waiting for.
Ideas for small business owners
You can post a daily tip on Threads about your niche. Then show behind the scenes in a short Facebook video and polish it with Edits so it looks clean. You can use text overlays for prices and WhatsApp contact. For Free Basics users, write a plain post with your menu, address, and hours so they can still find you when data is low.
Ideas for community groups
Use Threads to ask your neighbors what topics they need help with. Gather questions about health, safety, or local events. Record a simple Question and Answer video, edit lightly, and post on your Page. Then publish a text summary for Free Basics readers.
Most people never explore beyond the news feed. That is why these three products feel invisible. Now you know what they do. Edits helps you polish stories. Threads helps you start conversations. Free Basics helps you stay connected when money is tight. Pick one today. Spend ten minutes with it. Post something helpful. Invite one friend to try it too. In a week, you will feel lighter because your online life will be simpler, clearer, and kinder to your budget. Keep learning, keep testing small ideas, and let these quiet tools quietly multiply your daily wins today. Share your results with me, and we will plan next steps together.