Facebook's new Paper mobile app is gaining traction in Apple's iTunes store, and it's a game changer for the social network, which is working on new ways to let users interact with each other, according to one tech expert.
Paper, which pulls news feed updates and news stories into one place, may look like Flipboard, another app that organizes news updates, but it's been developed with social media in mind first, instead of focusing on news first, according to Mark Spoonauer, editor in chief of Laptopmag.com.
(Read more: Facebook's promise of growth: A portfolio of apps)
"It is a gamer changer for Facebook. It shows that the company is willing to innovate and take chances, and it competes directly with Flipboard. The design is elegant, and the gesture-based navigation is very well executed," Spoonauer said.
The app comes as sites and apps like Twitter, Snapchat and WhatsApp have gained ground among social networkers.
Paper is the first project from Facebook Creative Labs, a group within the company that's focused on developing new apps.
"The benefit of Facebook doing specialized apps is that they can innovate faster and compete with more nimble foes like Snapchat," Spoonauer said.
Facebook may have to come up with a new name for Paper, however. App developer FiftyThree launched an app with the same name in March of last year.
—By CNBC's Althea Chang.