Facebook on Thursday announced that users will now be able to create group messages across both Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs.
The new cross-app communication features will allow users to start group chats between their Instagram and Messenger contacts and customize their chat themes. Facebook is also introducing polls to cross-app chats and is launching group typing indicators so others can see who’s typing.
Facebook first unveiled greater cross-app integration with Instagram last year. The company also launched more tools to optimize shared experiences among its users, including Watch Together, which allows people to stream content in tandem across the app.
“Our goal is to help people feel connected even if they can’t be together,” said Sateesh Kumar Srinivasan, director of product management at Facebook Messenger. “Over the past year, group chats have been a lifeline for many of us.”
On Wednesday, Facebook added Reels to its News Feed, borrowing the popular feature from Instagram and allowing users to share Reels between the two sites.
In other news, Facebook is spending $50 million USD to “responsibly” build out the metaverse.
