Facebook has stuffed Messenger with features for the last few years, but now it’s announced that it’s actually working on a simplified design and user interface for its messaging app.
At Facebook’s F8 keynote, Mark Zuckerberg exclaimed that “when you’re messaging, you really want a simple and fast experience.” Well, that might be true, but up until now, his company has been packing Messenger with one feature after another (many would say useless ones), trying to emulate apps like Snapchat. And while Messenger has done this incredibly well, even beating Snapchat at its own game within a very short time, the app has become bloated.
As a result, Facebook is now looking to simplify Messenger. As Zuckerberg explains, Facebook is “taking this moment to completely redesign Messenger to focus on these ideas.” The operative words in Zuckerberg’s keynote are “clean” and “fast,” and this is what Facebook is concentrating on delivering soon. In fact, Messenger VP David Marcus said that the new design is coming “very soon.” The simplified design, of course, goes hand in hand with what Marcus talked about in January, when M was removed from the cluttered app.
Some things to expect as part of the new Messenger design? A dark mode (of course!) as well as a simplified bottom navigation with three tabs focusing on communication (that’s what Messenger is for after all!) and icons for camera and video chat to remain ever-present. The latter have become two big parts of the app, and of course how people use it.
It’s highly possible that the camera app will be upgraded with the AR features Facebook is adding. Finally, translation will be available to all.
You might also like
More from Facebook
3 Courses To Help You Create Compelling Facebook Ad Visuals
Here are three free Facebook Blueprint courses that will help you create more impactful ad visuals that get your audience's …
Facebook Bans Holocaust Denial Content
Facebook has announced an update to its hate speech policy, banning Holocaust denial content on its platform.
Facebook Removes 28-Day Attribution Model From Ads
Late last month, Facebook announced it's removing the 28-day attribution window in Facebook Ads. The change is effective as of …
Facebook Bans QAnon Across Its Platforms
Facebook is banning QAnon-related Pages, Groups, and Instagram accounts, even if they don't contain violent content.
Facebook Brings Netflix, Zoom, And More Features To Portal
Facebook has announced it's bringing Netflix, Zoom, new titles to its Story Time library, AR stories, and more to its …
Facebook NPE Forecast App Is Now Open To Everyone In The US And Canada
After launching its Forecast app in June, Facebook NPE is now making the app available to all users in the …
Facebook Expands Brand Collabs Manager To Public Groups
Facebook is starting to expand Brand Collabs Manager (BCM) to include Public Groups in a bid to help communities collaborate …
Facebook Announces New Community Management Certification
Facebook has created a new Facebook Community Manager Certification Program available to users through Facebook Blueprint.
Facebook Announces New Tools For Groups
At its Communities Summit last week, Facebook has announced many new tools to help Group Admins better manage their communities.
