Facebook Messenger has grown a lot since it was originally introduced as Facebook Chat way back in 2008. Since it launched, it has grown from a very simple web-based messaging system to one that supports video and group chats on both Android and iOS. With the introduction of several new features in 2017, Facebook Messenger saw its biggest year yet, with more than 1.3 billion users globally.
In 2017, there were more than 7 billion conversations happening on Facebook Messenger every day. That’s nearly one conversation for each person worldwide. Facebook reported that holidays were the most popular time for people to connect via Messenger, with New Year’s, Mother’s Day, and Valentine’s Day being the most active days. But even on an average day, 260 million new conversation threads were started.
Throughout the year, Facebook brought new features to Messenger. Earlier this year, Facebook added reactions and mentions to group Messenger chats. Group users can add different emojis to each thread in the conversation, as well the have the ability to notify a particular person in the group chat. The changes appear to be paying off.
An average of 2.5 million group chats were started on Facebook Messenger every day in 2017. Group chat sizes varied, but Facebook said the average Messenger group chat contained around 10 people. People seemed to like the new reactions feature as well, with more than 11 billion reactions shared since March.
Video chats on Facebook Messenger had a huge year as well. In 2017, the number of real-time video chats on Facebook Messenger more than doubled to 17 billion. While some of this growth can be attributed to improvements in front-facing cameras on smartphones, Facebook believes a significant portion of video chat growth can be attributed to new features — group video chat and AR features.
Almost a year ago, Facebook added group video chat to Messenger, a feature already available on other platforms like WhatsApp and Viber. In June, Facebook added more AR features to video chat, allowing people to apply Snapchat-like filters to their conversations, as well as reactions. These new features make Facebook Messenger a fully capable competitor to other similar messaging apps.
Instagram is testing a new format for long-form videos called Features. It allows select creators to upload horizontal videos running up to 90 minutes long. Instagram has already tested the new format with creators in Brazil, and now, it's expanding to tens of thousands of creators across the US.
How will Instagram's new Features format work?
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
I have lost count of how many times I have gone to bed thinking I will finally sleep on time, only to somehow end up scrolling Instagram or X again. A few minutes turn into an hour, then another, and before I notice, it is 2 or 3 a.m. The next morning, I am usually annoyed with myself because I could have just slept and felt considerably better for the day ahead.
It is also a surprisingly hard habit to beat. Knowing you should put the phone down does not always help once it is already in your hand. Brick Night is a new gadget built around that exact problem. Instead of relying on you to remember to turn on an app blocker, it automatically restricts selected apps and websites when your phone enters your chosen sleep space during the hours you set.