Facebook Messenger New Features 2021
Facebook Messenger announced three new features launching in its app. They announced a new set of sponsored chat themes for Messenger chats, as well as a new quick reply bar for shared images, and QR codes, and payment links for easier to request and send money through messenger even if they aren’t Facebook friends. This feature is rolling out to US Messenger users if they have an updated version of the Facebook Messenger app. Soon it will be available for all users around the world.
Messenger Chat Themes
F9 Messenger Theme – Facebook has added a new Messenger theme called the F9 chat theme. It’s the Fast Saga’s 20th anniversary, so time to lock in for a Fast & Furious movie marathon in preparation for the newest story in the series! This sponsored theme is available within the app.
Olivia Rodrigo Theme – Facebook also added a theme from Olivia Rodrigo, to celebrate the launch of her new album Sour. This chat theme featuring with Olivia’s signature face stickers.
World Oceans Day Theme – To Keep your conversations afloat with the new World Oceans Day messenger chat theme, which not only lets you virtually explore the world’s oceans but also promotes sustainability and the importance of keeping our oceans clean for the future generations.
The new chat themes are now available in both Messenger and Instagram apps.
How To Enable New Messenger Chat Themes?
To enable these new messenger themes, choose a conversation, navigate to its settings, and click ‘Theme’.
Messenger Quick Reply
With the new quick reply bar to the messenger, when viewing media in a message thread. It’s much easier to have conversations by photo or video without needing to go back to the main chat thread. Users can just tap on the photo and send a response through the quick reply bar at the bottom of the app screen.
Previously, if your friend sent you a video, you clicked to watch it through an expanded whole screen and you had to exit the media view to respond to it. This new update will streamline that connection, which could help to facilitate more engagement.
Facebook Payment QR Code
Facebook also launched Venmo-like new QR codes and payment link options in Messenger, for quicker funds transfers within the app. The main feature here is, you can send or request money even if you’re not connected to the person already. Users just need to visit their Messenger settings and tap “Facebook Pay,” then share the payment link or allow a friend to scan the QR code.
Users who want to send and receive money in Messenger have to be at least 18 years old, and they have a Visa or Mastercard debit card, a PayPal account, or one of the supported prepaid cards or government-issued cards, to use the payments feature. They’ll also need to set their preferred currency to U.S. dollars in the app.
Facebook Messenger explained,
“No need to download a separate payment app or add new contacts on the fly! To access your personal QR code and payment link, visit your Messenger settings and tap “Facebook Pay.” Simply share the payment link or allow your friends to scan your QR code to send or request money.”
Facebook gives more importance and working to make Messenger a more useful application, in more ways, and with the capacity to make payments in-stream, that could help the company add in more business transaction tools and other processes to improve its utility.
