Facebook Gives Its Messenger App a Complete Makeover

A little less than two weeks since Facebook integrated its Messenger app with Instagram‘s own messaging service, the social media giant has now rolled out a complete makeover for the unified app, bringing more than 10 new features to its users.

Before you even open up the app, you’ll notice that the icon has been updated, now dressed in a pink and purple gradient effect similar to Facebook’s own Instagram icon. Once you’ve opened it, there’ll be a whole array of new features, such as customizable chat themes and the ability to both forward to reply to specific messages. Custom emoji reactions allow you to be more expressive than ever, complemented by what the company calls Selfie Stickers, “a unique hybrid of Boomerang, emojis, and selfies.” Vanish Mode will make messages disappear once they’re seen, much like Snapchat, while a Watch Together mode allows you to share various videos on-screen during video calls. To create a safer space and more positive experience, Facebook also made it easier to report and block troublesome users you might come across.

“With over a billion users around the world, our mission is to be a universal way to connect and be closer together,” writes Facebook. “That mission has never been more important as people everywhere look to private online spaces to stay connected. Over the past six months, we’ve been busy launching products and features that make it easier and more fun to be with your friends and family when you can’t be together in person, whether that’s popping into a virtual room to catch up, or watching funny videos together. You can even easily connect with many of your favorite small businesses, even if you can’t visit them IRL.”

Facebook’s latest Messenger update is now live.

Elsewhere in tech, Apple has announced its new iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max.