Facebook Messenger launches new threaded replies to make it easier to follow along in group chats

Facebook wants to make it easier to follow along in group chats.

The social media giant is rolling out a new threaded replies feature to the Messenger app that lets users quote and reply specific messages in a conversation. 

The feature became available globally starting on Wednesday.

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Facebook wants to make it easier to follow along in group chats. The firm is debuting threaded replies in Messenger that let users quote and reply specific messages in a conversation

To use the new feature, users hold down on the message they want to reply to and then tap on the ‘Reply’ icon, which shows up as an arrow. 

Users can reply to text messages, GIFs, videos, emoji and photos. 

After hitting reply, the message will be quoted above yours so other group chat members are aware what you’re responding to.

Many have suggested that the threading feature could soon arrive on the entire Facebook-owned ‘family of apps.’

Aside from Messenger, this also includes Instagram, the main Facebook app and WhatsApp.

Earlier this year, CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the company was in the early stages of integrating all of its chat apps so that users can message others across all the services.

The threading feature became available globally starting on Wednesday. To use it, Messenger users hold down on a text, photo, GIF or emoji and tap on the ‘reply’ icon to quote something

Facebook has been busy rolling out numerous features to Messenger in recent months. 

A few weeks ago, Facebook launched Dark Mode in Messenger that transforms the app into a darker color scheme so that it’s easier on users’ eyes at nighttime. 

When users send a crescent moon, it switches the chat window to a black background.  

‘Messenger’s dark mode provides lower brightness while maintaining contrast and vibrancy,’ Facebook says.

‘Dark mode cuts down the glare from your phone for use in low light situations, so you can use the Messenger features you love no matter when or where you are.’

Additionally, last year, Facebook said it would streamline the Messenger app with a new simplified design.    

WHAT CHANGES ARE COMING TO FACEBOOK MESSENGER?

Facebook is slimming down its Messenger app to make it easier to use. 

At its F8 developers conference, the firm said the Messenger app will get a simpler interface with fewer buttons to prevent it from getting too cluttered.

The app will no longer show a games and camera tab in the navigation bar.

Additionally, Facebook is rolling out new translation features into the app. 

When users communicate with an international business in the Messenger app, Facebook’s built-in chat bot ‘M’ will be able to translate responses automatically. 

The Messenger app is also getting new AR Marketing features, which lets firms build augmented reality experiences directly in the app

The features will be rolling out in the US with the option to translate English to Spanish and vice versa.

In the coming weeks, all US Messenger users will be able to access the tool, before it launches in more languages and countries in the near future. 

The Messenger app is also getting new AR Marketing features, which lets firms build augmented reality experiences directly in the app. 

Users will be able to open the camera and use an AR filter created specifically by the business. 

The feature is rolling out to a limited number of users in beta.