Messenger

Facebook released free-to-use Messenger Rooms, allowing multiple people to do video chat in a single array of windows at one time. Using this platform is relatively simple if all users already have a Facebook account and/or a Facebook Messenger account, allowing a potentially quick adoption by masses of users in the very near future. This is clearly Facebook's as-fast-as-possible reaction to the sweeping popularity of systems like Zoom - and other video chatroom platforms - in the wake of COVID-19, global pandemic, and remote working during quarantine.

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The Facebook app "Messenger Kids" released several feature updates as well as a news alert that they'd expanded service to a number of new regions. They've suggested that they've responded to parent requests for updates, that they've brought software changes according to recommendations from their "Youth Advisers" and important people in child-related leadership roles. But it's still a social networking app run by Facebook whose most likely ultimate goal is to bring new users into the fold.

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Facebook has launched its sixth reaction emoji with availability on both the main Facebook platform and on the Messenger app. With this new emoji, users can better express that they care -- the character shows a smiling face that is hugging a bright pink heart. The reaction emoji joins the previous reactions, including the laughing face, angry face, thumbs up, sad face, and heart.

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We are now living in times when connecting with friends, sometimes even family, has to happen virtually over the Internet. At the same time, we are also living in times when we have to be careful about the things we touch and put to our faces. In other words, smartphones are both tools for communication as well as health liabilities. Facebook's internal R&D team might have the answer and it involves an Apple Watch and a new experimental app called Kit.

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A Facebook Messenger app was released this week for group chats between Facebook users. Users could've done video chat before now, with Messenger from Facebook, but this app makes the entire process feel a bit more official. This release comes just as the app Zoom sees a massive increase in use thanks to quarantine for global pandemic thanks to COVID-19.*

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Following the launch of its COVID-19 Information Center on Facebook comes a similar offering in Messenger: the new Coronavirus Community Hub. With this, Facebook Messenger users can access information related to the pandemic directly in the chatting app, including resources from government health organizations. These groups will be able to provide users with immediate automated responses to coronavirus questions and more.

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Facebook spun off its instant messaging functionality into its own app so that it could grow and evolve on its own. That did happen but, unfortunately, the app also grew in size and complexity that rivaled the main Facebook app, and not in a good way. The social media giant has recently been working to keep that overgrowth in check, mostly by producing "Lite" versions of its apps. Now it's bringing all of those lessons back to the main Messenger app on iOS that is promised to be leaner and simpler, at least on the inside.

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Years ago, Facebook emphasized the reality of bots in its Messenger app and added a then-new tab called Discover that made it easier for users to find these bots. As well, the Discover tab was used to find businesses and nearby places to message, both of which were also heavily emphasized in the app. This has changed with a recent update that quietly scrubs the tab altogether.

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Facebook today announced several new features for Messenger Kids. Like Messenger Kids in general, these features are meant to give parents (and children themselves) more control over their conversations. The biggest changes come in the form of additions to the Parent Dashboard, which give new capabilities to parents wanting to make sure their children's conversations are on the up-and-up.

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Facebook may now be better known for violating the privacy of its users but it doesn't want anyone else from doing the same. All your best efforts to set all the privacy options on Facebook are all for naught, however, the moment some inquisitive friend or relative gets a hold of your phone and, therefore, your Messenger chats. That's probably why it is apparently developing a way to securely lock your chats, using your face as the key.

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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premieres in theaters next week, and with a property as big as Star Wars, there are bound to be plenty of tie-ins. Today, Facebook announced one such tie-in for Messenger, which will be outfitted with a number of limited-time features for The Rise of Skywalker. New features include Star Wars-themed stickers, reactions, and even AR effects.

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Facebook is launching a new payment service, Facebook Pay, that spans not only the social network itself but Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. While each of those services already supports payments, the company is tying them together so that users will only have to enter details once if they prefer - though there's an upside for Facebook, too.

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