Facebook Messenger Rooms

Facebook Messenger Rooms, also known as Messenger Rooms, is a video conferencing feature of Facebook Messenger.[1] It allows users to add up to 50 people at a time.[2][3][4] Messenger Rooms does not require a Facebook account.[5] Messenger Rooms competes with other services such as Zoom.[6]

Facebook Messenger Rooms
Messenger Rooms
Screenshot
Screenshot of a Messenger Rooms group call
Developer(s)Facebook
Initial releaseApril 24, 2020 (2020-04-24)
Operating systemWeb, Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, Mac
TypeVideoconferencing, VoIP, and Instant messaging
LicenseFreeware
WebsiteMessenger.com/rooms

History

Back in 2014, Facebook introduced an unrelated, stand-alone application named Rooms,[1] letting users create places for users with similar interests, with users being anonymous to others.[7] This was shut down on December 2015.[1]

In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook revealed video conferencing features for Messenger called Messenger Rooms.[8] This was seen as a response to the popularity of other video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Skype in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic[3][8][9]

Features

Messenger Rooms allows users to add up to 50 people per room, without restrictions on time.[10] It does not require a Facebook account or a separate app from Messenger. When used, it only prompts the user for basic information. Users can add 360° virtual backgrounds, mood lighting, and other AR effects as well as share screens. To prevent unwanted participants from joining, users can lock rooms and remove participants.[11]

Reception

Some have voiced concerns in regards to Messenger Room's privacy and how its parent, Facebook, handles data. Messenger Rooms, unlike some of its competitors, does not use end-to-end encryption.[12] In addition, there have been concerns over how Messenger Rooms collects user data.[13]

References
  1. "Introducing Rooms". About Facebook. 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  2. Staff (2020-04-25). "Facebook Messenger Rooms launched, supports 50 people video calls". BGR India. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  3. Wiggers, Kyle (2020-04-24). "Facebook launches Messenger Rooms, group calls for up to 50 people with no time limit". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  4. Rodriguez, Salvador (2020-07-23). "Facebook aims for Zoom by letting users live broadcast large video meetings". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  5. "Introducing Messenger Rooms and More Ways to Connect When You're Apart". About Facebook. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  6. Tillman, Maggie (2020-07-24). "Messenger Rooms: Facebook's Zoom-like feature explained". Pocket-lint. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  7. Constine, Josh. "Facebook Launches Pseudonymous App "Rooms" That Lets You Create Forums About Any Topic". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  8. "Facebook Allows Users to Broadcast Live Large Video Calls". NDTV Gadgets 360. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  9. "Facebook aims to take on Zoom with launch of Messenger Rooms". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  10. Saha, Sneha (2020-05-18). "Facebook Messenger Rooms is a mix of Houseparty and Zoom; makes video calls fun". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  11. "Privacy Matters: Messenger Rooms". About Facebook. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  12. Morse, Jack. "Why you shouldn't use Facebook's Messenger Rooms: A non-exhaustive list". Mashable. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  13. months, Jack Morse 7 (2020-04-29). "Why you shouldn't use Facebook's Messenger Rooms: A non-exhaustive list". Mashable SEA. Retrieved 2020-12-01.


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