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In an attempt to further build on engagement using its avatar feature, Meta has launched a new functionality that allows users to appear on video calls as their avatar characters, on Instagram and Messenger.

 

“Sometimes, we’re just not camera-ready,” says Meta explaining how using your Meta avatar in place of your own video can be a great way to interact on video calls without having to worry about your appearance. The avatars on video calls will work by responding to and following users’ facial moves.

 

Meta Launches a New ‘Real-Time Avatar Call’ Functionality on Instagram and Messenger

 


As a way of welcoming the Lunar New Year, Meta has added a bunch of new tools to Messenger, including themed stickers, AR effects, and updated 3D avatar tools.

 

The new stickers feature a range of adorable tiger animations, as this Lunar Year is the Year of the Tiger, while the new AR effect has been designed to show the group Lion Dance.

 

Meta Updates Messenger with New Tools Designed for the Lunar New Year

 


Among a bunch of new tools that Facebook has announced recently for Messenger and Instagram Direct, there is one that enables group discussions between the two apps, a set of new group typing indicators, and the option of polls in Instagram Direct.

 


The most prominent addition is that of the Cross-App Messaging feature that Facebook had announced last year. With cross-app messaging, users will be able to engage in group chats between their Instagram and Messenger contacts. This is an extended version of the existing option to have individual chats across the two apps, which was launched last September. Facebook also plans to later include WhatsApp within this messaging integration system.

Facebook Announces New Features for IG Direct and Messenger, Including Cross-App Messaging

Facebook tests to switch Voice and Video Calling feature back to the main app

Facebook launched its dedicated application i.e., Messenger solely for communication purposes with your Facebook friends. By 2014, the Messenger app was integrated with Voice and Video Calling feature. However, a couple of users in different countries including the USA have observed the feature of making Voice or Video calls directly via Facebook’s main app.

This reveals that Facebook is currently testing to bring the Voice and Video Calling option back to the main app, preventing the users from swapping between the two apps. Initially, Facebook was a single app where chatting was also done until the launch of Messenger.

Facebook tests to switch Voice and Video Calling feature back to the main app

 


Facebook has introduced some new features in the Messenger app for emojis and reactions, and new chat background options.

 

You will now see a newly added emoji search bar in your Messenger chats, at the top of the panel where reaction options are displayed. In the emoji search bar, you can quickly search for the desired emoji to send in your chat. You can simply type the name of the emoji that you’re looking for, for instance “heart”, and the heart emojis will appear.

 

Facebook Brings New Messenger Features Including Quick Access to Emojis and Space Themed Background

 


Facebook is implementing its new end-to-end encryption policy for messages across all of its messaging services. The company announced its plan in an overview of its recent virtual workshop held with experts in privacy, safety, human rights, and consumer protection.

 

According to Facebook, it is bringing end-to-end encryption for messages as a way to protect users’ private messages. “While we expect to make more progress on default end-to-end encryption for Messenger and Instagram Direct this year, it’s a long-term project and we won’t be fully end-to-end encrypted until sometime in 2022 at the earliest," the company added.

 

However, various concerns have been raised by some authorities in regard to Facebook’s plan. The most significant concern is that this privacy method can be used to hide criminal activity, as it can prevent authorities from tracking illegal exchanges.

Facebook Decides to Implement End-to-End Encryption Policy for its Messaging Tools

Giant social media apps faces outages in various countries

Social media applications like Facebook, Messenger and Instagram are the go-to applications for people all around the globe. These applications are a source of entertainment, work, and knowledge for several people. With billions of daily active users on these platforms, outages on such apps will drive the users crazy. A large number of users have been reporting glitches and trouble using Instagram, Messenger and Facebook today. Most of the complains were from European countries but other countries, including the Philippines and Australia, reported similar issues as well.

Giant social media apps faces outages in various countries



Facebook has rolled out a new feature called Vanish Mode for Messenger and Instagram. With this messaging option, you can send messages including texts, photos, voice recordings, emojis, and stickers that will disappear once the recipient views them and the chat window is closed.  


Vanish Mode was first announced in September and Facebook is slowly rolling it out to some users who can see it in their chat settings on Messenger. The option can be turned on or off and is available for one-on-one chats only for now.  


Moreover, the mode is opt-in, which means that if it has been activated by another user in the chat, you have no choice but to enter it as well. Notifications of screenshots will also be sent to users in case a screenshot of the chat is taken while the mode is enabled.  


Another similar feature of secret conversation mode already exists in Messenger, that lets you enter an end-to-end encrypted chat that’s saved only on your device. 

Facebook Releases ‘Vanish Mode’ for Messenger and Instagram Chats

Instagram bypasses Facebook messenger to introduce its room feature

The latest report from Alessandro Paluzzi says that Instagram users will no longer be using the platform of the Facebook messenger to avail the feature of Room instead, they will easily be directed to the Room without copy any sort of link. Where a huge proportion of people favor the exclusion of Facebook Messenger from the WhatsApp room feature, there is also quite a buzz among them regarding the safety of the Instagram Room feature and how it will work. Since many people believe that WhatsApp beta is a better and more secure way to get to the room through messenger, there are also quite a few that will happily switch to Instagram because it is the easy way out.

Instagram bypasses Facebook messenger to introduce its room feature


With Halloween approaching, Facebook has got some unique Halloween features for users on Messenger that work with visual effects. To be exact, users can enjoy augmented reality filters on Messenger, with which they can virtually dress up for Halloween. 


Video calls on Messenger can be enjoyed with a 360-degree Halloween-themed background, giving off a realistically frightening look. Other than that, a bunch of Halloween stickers will also be available.  


The 360-degree background was already a feature for Messenger video calls and the AR features have been available for some time too. 

Facebook Introduces Halloween AR Features and 360 Degree Backgrounds to Messenger

Facebook connects its Messenger and Instagram Direct Messages

Facebook announced its new upcoming cross messaging feature that will integrate Messenger and Instagram DM. It gets pretty difficult for the users to find a particular conversation with a vast variety of messaging options available, said by Facebook. Hence, in order to eliminate the confusion and make messaging super convenient for the users, Facebook is planning to join the platforms and make a single place to have all the conversations there.

Facebook wants its Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram Direct Messages connected to that every thread stays in one place, and people can send a message from one platform to another from a single place, even if they don’t have every app downloaded. This feature will ultimately make Facebook the leader in the global messaging world. Along with leadership, a vast number of opportunities will also be made available for e-Commerce and marketing.

Facebook connects its Messenger and Instagram Direct Messages



Facebook is making its payment processes easier and simpler for both Facebook and Instagram users to enhance their purchase experience based on posts and ads on all the Facebook apps. For this purpose, the social media company is introducing a new Accounts Centre option, which it will roll out for testing this week. 


 

The Accounts Centre will serve as a central point where users can connect their Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram accounts, which will save them from the hassle of separately logging in to each of their accounts when making purchases. 

 



There will be three types of account linking options available in the Accounts Centre: Story and Post Sharing, Facebook Pay Info, and Logging in Across Accounts.  


 

The Story and Post Sharing Option will allow users to cross-share their Stories across the apps. With Facebook Pay Info, users can authorize their payments via their linked Facebook Pay details from the main Facebook account. And lastly, by choosing to log in across accounts, users can easily log in to a separate account from Facebook, without having to re-enter the log-in details. 

Facebook Introduces ‘'Accounts Centre’' to Help Link Accounts and Make Purchases Processes Easier

Facebook brings ‘Watch Together’ feature for Messenger

Facebook has been seen to constantly work on rolling out new and better features for its users to help them connect to their friends and families much easier. Even after being miles apart, you can contact your close ones through Facebook Messenger in no time. Since we all know how fun sharing memes with each other is but sometimes, you need to see the real-time expressions and reactions of your friends on a particular video.

As per Facebook’s analysis, more than 200 million videos are sent on Messenger every day, whereas 150 million video calls are made. The Watch Together feature will help you share the videos with your friends while being on a video call and watch together to see the real-time expressions.

Distances can create a sense of loneliness among people; hence, Facebook came up with the idea of Watch Together in order to help its users with an amazing experience that makes them feel as if they are together with their loved ones. Any type of video including, sports highlights, news highlights, a movie, a meme, trending videos, etc. can be watched together with your friends.

Facebook brings ‘Watch Together’ feature for Messenger

Facebook messenger is working on new updates for iOS

A famous mobile developer, Alessandro Paluzzi, informed the iOS users about Facebook Messenger’s new upcoming release for them. One of the features that Facebook is working on is the group notification along with a reply reminder. Reply reminders would remind the user to reply to the missed or unnoticed messages.


Facebook Messenger brings three different choices for group notifications, which you can choose as per your preference. The options include turning on notifications for all groups, getting notified when you are mentioned or replied, or turning off the notifications for all the group conversations.

Facebook messenger is working on new updates for iOS

Facebook introduces message forward limit feature

Considering the fact that false and harmful viral information spreads much quicker than the real information, Facebook took a step and released an update of message forward limit. With this feature, a particular message can be forwarded to five groups or individual people at a time. Misinformation is likely to cause harm to society or people and creates nonsensical panic.


Since the world is going through the crises brought by Covid-19 pandemic and many states such as the USA, New Zealand and a few more countries have their elections soon, any fake news over the internet can cause big trouble.

Facebook introduces message forward limit feature

Facebook just announced an update for Messenger Rooms with new features to enhance users' experience of the joinable group video calls. Users will be able to personalize their Rooms, and create, join and manage Rooms within the Messenger app. 


With the new personalization option, users can customize their background in the video chat with their own photos. From a favourite sunset to a funny home video, the video chats can be personalized in a fun and creative way on mobile. 

In addition to that, Facebook is making it easier for users to create and discover Rooms within Messenger on their smartphones. The following options will be available: 

Facebook Introduces New Features for Messenger Rooms

Facebook collaborates with a few video calling services to introduce new features

The severe global pandemic conditions and prolonged lockdowns have made lives exceptionally miserably. The world has shifted everything to home, from educational institutes to workplaces. During this tough time, video calling has been a great help for everyone. From seeing and talking to your loved ones over the screens even after being miles apart to taking classes online through video conferencing, from attending office meetings from home to work with your clients, everything has been made digital.

To cope up with the ongoing crisis, Facebook planned a partnership with some renowned video conferencing applications and make it available on its portal soon. Facebook, in one of their recent tweets, said that they had noticed a significant increase in video calling through messenger, including conference calls. The company also says that it is adding Zoom, GoToMeeting, BlueJeans, and Webex application on its portal devices that support conference calls.

Facebook collaborates with a few video calling services to introduce new features

It seems like Facebook is merging the chat systems for Instagram and Messenger on the Instagram app. It was noticed on both iOS and Android devices that Instagram's app showed a new screen with an update option. The screen had the message “There’s a New Way to Message on Instagram”. A list of features was also displayed including a new look for the chats, more emoji reactions, swipe to reply, and chat with friends who use Facebook. 


If you choose the option to update, the icon of DM on the top right corner of Instagram's interface will be replaced by the Facebook Messenger logo. The chats will also change color from blue to purple as you scroll. However, the update will still not enable the option of using Instagram to message friends who use Facebook. 

Facebook is Integrating Instagram and Messenger Chats

The 'Stories' Feature of Social Media Platforms: Who is Winning?

The clash between Instagram and TikTok has become apparent as TikTok has a massive number of active monthly users. Seeing the competition, Instagram has come up with a new feature for its stories, by the name of Instagram Reels.

Stories weren't an original Instagram feature either. Back in 2016, Instagram introduced stories for its users due to tough competition by Snapchat. Along with Instagram, since Whatsapp is also run by Facebook Inc., the stories feature eventually made it to Whatsapp as well as Facebook and Messenger.

The 'Stories' Feature of Social Media Platforms: Who is Winning? #Infographic


Facebook has made the video call option in Messenger even better by providing users the feature of screen-sharing that can be used in both Messenger Rooms and the mobile app. To use this option, the user has to simply drag up the function panel at the bottom while on a video call, where more options will be displayed. The “Share your Screen” option will be among them, by tapping on which the user can share their device screen with the rest of the people in the video chat. According to Messenger, up to sixteen people can share screen in Messenger Rooms.

With this new feature, Messenger aims to bring people even closer together and stay connected in a better way, especially in times of the COVID pandemic when everyone is physically apart. Facebook had already added screen-sharing in the Messenger desktop and web apps earlier this year, which brought a rise in desktop calls amid the lockdowns. The same feature can now be utilized and enjoyed on mobile phones as well. It has been under testing and development for some time now.

Facebook Now Introduces Screen-Sharing Option in its Messenger App

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