There’s no shortage of us regularly using Facebook Messenger to chat to friends and family – but it remains a largely text-based experience. Now, Facebook is aiming to change that by introducing a new feature, Instant Video, which brings a greater element of video chatting to Messenger.
Instant Video basically works by adding a video feed that lets you see the other person – or them see you – while still sending text-based messages. In a blog post, Facebook calls Instant Video “perfect for sharing quick moments with friends who aren’t right by your side or making your conversations richer by seeing each other face-to-face when you are messaging.”
Provided that both you and the other person are using the latest version of the Messenger app on iOS or Android, you can open a real-time video feed of yourself by tapping on a video icon in the top right corner. While the audio will be off by default, you can opt to switch it on. The other person can watch the video stream and also activate their own video feed for you to watch.
On iOS, the Facebook Messenger app has recently been updated to version 86.0. So, remember to update to this version before looking for the Instant Video feature – and, if you don’t currently have the app, remember that it’s free to download from the App Store.