Facebook is taking its social network dominance to a whole new integrated level, with messaging now possible cross-platform with Instagram.
It could be remembered that Facebook bought Instagram in 2012. Per CNN, the social media giant has promised last year about its Instagram and WhatsApp integration with Facebook.
For those who are aware, WhatsApp was acquired in 2014.
The platform is finally ready to present its latest innovation to online messaging. Who would ever think that cross-platform availability would even be a thing on social media?
Messenger-Instagram fusion
On Wednesday, both Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, and Messenger’s head, Stan Chudnovsky, authored the announcement introducing the new messaging tool for Instagram.
Basically, they’ve added the whole new Messenger experience on Instagram‘s DM system.
The use of Messenger has always rampant, but more so now amid a pandemic, where everyone practically lives and communicate online. Since the creation of Facebook, Messenger developed to be its own independent messaging tool.
In fact, people on Facebook have the option to deactivate its profile account but retain on Messenger. The execs acknowledge the importance of messaging considering their statistics show “more than 100 billion messages” have been sent on “Facebook’s family of apps alone.”
An excerpt of the announcement reads:
“That’s why we’re connecting the Messenger and Instagram experience to bring some of the best Messenger features to Instagram – so you have access to the best messaging experience, no matter which app you use. People on Instagram can decide whether to update immediately to this new experience.”
Based on the their teams’ research, they found out that “one out of three people sometimes find it difficult to remember where to find a certain conversation thread.”
With this innovative integration, The people behind Facebook Messenger and Instagram hopes to simplify the platform of online communication.
Today we're sharing an update to @instagram DMs that will bring the best of @Messenger to the app. You'll soon be able to communicate across apps with features like watch together, selfie stickers, vanish mode, emoji reactions and more. https://t.co/QOBnvuL8sP pic.twitter.com/i6QGGJyK1p
— Facebook (@Facebook) September 30, 2020
Infused features
Recently, Messenger added this new “Watch Together” feature. This lets people in a video conversation watch videos on Facebook together.
This feature will also be integrated in Instragram, allowing friends to watch IGTV while on call.
Aside from that, there’s also what the execs call “vanish mode.” IG users are familiar with this on sending photos via DMs. With vanish mode, friends can now “et messages to automatically disappear after they’re seen.”
Although, this feature is not quite available globally yet. The messaging infusion is still being tested in selected markets as of now, CNN reports.
Its global expansion will hopefully take place in the months to come. Testing has reportedly started this summer and has been rolling out “more broadly.”
How powerful is this first step?
CNN notes that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s acquired apps—Instagram and WhatsApp—has over 1 billion active monthly users. Messenger also has the same amount of users.
Integrating all three big applications into one connectivity is part of Zuckerberg’s plan outlined in 2019, says The Verge. He believes that “private messaging, ephemeral stories, and small groups are by far the fastest growing areas of online communication.”
Featured image courtesy of Facebook