Messenger and Instagram: 3 new features coming

Small changes to the two chat apps of the Facebook group that will be very welcome by users: two will come also in Italy, here are what they are.

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Giuseppe Croce Journalist

Peppe Croce, journalist since 2008, deals with electronic devices and new technologies applied to the automotive world. He joined Libero Tecnologia in 2018.

Nice news for users of Facebook Messenger and Instagram, which, as we all know, are now almost one app and are updated together by Mark Zuckerberg’s programmers. There are three announcements that have just arrived, two of which are also of interest to Italian users.

To be precise, these are new themes for chats, quick replies to multimedia content and the ability to use QR codes to make payments within the app, even to users not registered to Messenger or Instagram. Of these three new features, the first two will be distributed globally, so also in Italy, while the third is reserved for American users, who can already use the Messenger and Instagram apps (but also WhatsApp) to pay someone or something. As almost always happens for some time with the updates of the platforms of the Facebook group, the user will receive them without having to do anything. So if they haven’t arrived on your smartphones yet, don’t worry: it’s just a matter of time.

Messenger and Instagram: the new themes

Themes are one of the most loved features by both Messenger and Instagram users, especially the younger ones who, as it is known, are the most profitable users for these platforms. No wonder, then, that Facebook often releases new graphic themes to allow its users to change them often.

Among the various new themes available, one is dedicated to Olivia Rodrigo’s new album, Sour, another is dedicated to World Oceans Day and a third is for fans of the Fast & Furious saga, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

To use one of these new themes, simply go to Messenger or Instagram settings, choose Themes and select the one you prefer.

Messenger and Instagram: Quick Replies

A small, but very convenient, change to the user interface is the second new feature coming to users of the two chat apps. It’s called “Quick Reply” and consists of the ability to quickly respond to a photo or video.

In practice now, when we tap on the multimedia content to see it full screen, the text entry bar also appears so that we can respond immediately, without returning to the chat.

A really small change compared to the current situation, but the new system is certainly more convenient and effective. This novelty will come by itself: the user will not have to do anything to activate it.