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Messaging made easy: New features for Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram

Here’s what you need to know about the recent (and upcoming) changes to Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram.

child abuse

Image via Adobe Stock

Facebook has been hard at work this year to improve everybody’s favourite chat apps and social media platforms: WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.

We’ve collected all the recent upgrades, updates and initiatives in one place.

New messaging features

WhatsApp

Video call limits

WhatsApp used to allow only four participants in a video call at a time, however this limit was increased back in April. The feature now allows up to eight participants to facilitate wider communication during the lockdown.

WhatsApp introduced the group audio and video calling feature in 2018. The current feature only allows for four participants to join a call. WABetaInfo discovered strings of code in WhatsApp Beta for Android before the update was rolled out.

Lockdown sticker packages

WhatsApp created a sticker pack to accurately express our lockdown, aptly titled “Together at Home”. The team collaborated with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to create a feature that would “help people stay connected”.

The sticker pack offers creative ways to remind people to wash their hands, maintain distance, exercise, and importantly to celebrate medical heroes as well as the personal heroes in all of our lives.

whatsapp coronavirus stickers
Image supplied by WhatsApp

Expected future updates

Several other interesting updates are expected to be rolled out by the end of May. Some of the most widely anticipated ones include WhatsApp Pay, disappearing messages, timed self-destructing messages similar to Snapchat texts

Instagram

 Bulk comment deletion

A new feature which rolled out this week enables users to delete a large number of comments in a single go. This provides improved control over the comments thread, especially for users with a large following.

Other options include to block and restrict comments from certain accounts, and the Instagram developer’s team is currently working on an option to pin comments.

Small business support

Businesses are facing immense challenges during the COVID-19 crisis, and supporting them is critical to the well-being of entrepreneurs, our communities and the economy.

This week, the Instagram team announced new ways for people to discover and support small business, along with more tools for keeping businesses informed.

Facebook

Messenger Rooms

Facebook recently launched its own video-conferencing solution to rival its competitors. The new features is known as Messenger Rooms and support up to 50 participants on a call.

There is also no time limit to a call. Additionally, one can create or participate in a Messenger Rooms call via the Messenger app, even if you don’t have a Facebook account.

Supporting local businesses

Another initiative by Facebook is to support small businesses by helping them connect to their customers online, and for employees to stay connected with Workplace From Facebook. Read about Workplace features here.

In addition, the Business Resources Hub feature is keeping business owners informed; it enables them to increase online interest and remaining contact with their clients.

Information Centre and donations

Facebook’s coronavirus information centre forms part of the company’s “effort to help the global fight against COVID-19 by provided people with the latest news”. Facebook’s Head of Public Policy, Africa, Kojo Boakye says:

“The launch of the COVID-19 Information Centre on Facebook in more than 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa aligns with our commitment to making accurate, timely information about the pandemic accessible to all communities.”

The information shared by the Centre can be traced back to trusted health authorities and includes tips and advice on how to stay healthy; not only for individuals but as families and communities too.

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