DOUBLE ACT
Facebook Messenger and Instagram chats will start ‘merging’ soon – letting you chat between both apps
A NEW Facebook Messenger update is taking it another step closer to merging with Instagram Direct messages.
Messenger is getting a new colourful look as well as a few extra features.
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Facebook tested linking together Instagram and Messenger chats earlier this year.
The tech giant wrote : "Today, Messenger gets a new look to mark our continued evolution from a simple way to message your Facebook friends, to a place to hang out with your favorite people, on your favorite apps and devices."
The new purple and pink ombre logo even makes the Messenger app look a bit more like Instagram.
Messenger users in North America will soon be able to use cross-app communication with Instagram.
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Facebook explained: "Messages and calls from friends and family using Instagram will stay in your Instagram app.
"The main change is that people using the Messenger app can now reach you on Instagram without you needing to download a new app, and vice versa.
"You can also control where you receive messages and calls, such as in your chats, in your message requests or not at all."
Facebook has plans to roll this out in other countries in the future.
The tech giant will also be introducing features like 'selfie stickers', new chat backgrounds and new chat bubble colours.
The Messenger features should appear automatically for many users after the app has been updated but Instagram users may have to opt in.
It may also take a few days for you to get the new features.
Facebook acquired Instagram back in 2012 for $1billion.
It later bought WhatsApp for $19billion.
The end goal is to merge all three and provide an end-to-end encrypted service.
Instagram – the key facts
Here's what you need to know...
- Instagram is a social network for sharing photos and videos
- It was created back in October 2010 as an iPhone-exclusive app
- A separate version for Android devices was released 18 months later
- The app rose to popularity thanks to its filters system, which lets you quickly edit your photos with cool effects
- When it first launched, users could only post square 1:1 ratio images, but that rule was changed in 2015
- In 2012, Facebook bought Instagram for $1billion in cash and stock
- In 2018, some analysts believe the app is worth closer to $100billion
- In October 2015, Instagram confirmed that more than 40billion photos had been uploaded to the app
- And in 2018, Instagram revealed that more than a billion people were using the app every month
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