Meta has taken a step forward in protecting its users’ privacy by gradually implementing end-to-end encryption for its Messenger service. Along with this, it has added a variety of features to the chats, such as personalised chat themes, custom emojis, reactions, group profile photos, link previews, and active status.
Meta announces end-to-end encryption for Messenger with more features
This move comes shortly after Meta combined Facebook and Instagram settings for a more streamlined user experience.
Meta has announced the expansion of testing of default end-to-end encryption for its Messenger service. Recognizing that people want a private and secure space for their conversations, the company has invested in building a team of engineering, cryptography, design, and policy experts to implement default end-to-end encryption on Messenger.
- Chat themes: The new Meta update for end-to-end encrypted chats allows users to personalise and enhance their conversations by adding chat themes, which include static colour and gradient options.
- Custom chat emojis and reactions: Allows users to see the entire menu of emoji reactions as well as customise the quick reaction tray.
- Group profile photos: With the new update, users can now choose group profile photos for different chats with friends or colleagues.
- Link previews: To improve security and privacy, Meta has rebuilt link previews for end-to-end encrypted chats, allowing users to see the destination of a link before clicking on it.
- Active Status: This feature allows others to see when you are active, letting them know when it is appropriate to call. Users can also disable this feature for greater privacy.
- Bubbles on Android: The Bubbles feature allows users to read and respond to messages while using other apps by displaying a circle with a friend’s picture. When a new message is received, a bubble will appear.
Availability
Over the next few months, Meta will gradually upgrade more chats to end-to-end encryption and will notify users when their individual chat threads are upgraded. Individual threads are selected and upgraded at random, and the company will provide more information to users who have questions about this process.
According to Meta, the implementation of new features and default end-to-end encryption for its Messenger service is designed to be random in order to avoid negative effects on its infrastructure and user chat experience. They also guarantee that this new implementation will continue to provide Messenger users with a fast, reliable, and rich experience.
Meta revealed the new features in a blog post
Building a secure and resilient end-to-end encrypted service for the billions of messages that are sent on Messenger every day requires careful testing. We’ll provide updates as we continue to make progress towards this goal over the course of 2023.
