Facebook Messenger has launched a brand new set of options referred to as Shortcuts, utilizing instructions on the messaging service. Users on iOS and Android smartphones can now situation instructions within the chat window to carry out totally different duties like notifying everybody in a gaggle, or silently ship a message with out notifying different customers. They may ship GIFs and ASCII emoticons on Facebook Messenger. The new options are harking back to the now defunct MSN Messenger’s hidden ‘Easter Egg’ instructions and are designed to make sure duties on Messenger simpler by the usage of one-word instructions.

The Meta-owned messaging service revealed on Tuesday that it was introducing Shortcuts for Facebook Messenger on Android and iOS, which shall be obtainable beginning right this moment. Using the Shortcuts function, customers can now sort @everybody to ship a notification to all customers within the chat. The command can be utilized to name group members’ consideration to a message asking a query, or as a reminder for an older message.

Users may utilise Shortcuts on Messenger to message a person or group with out notifying them, utilizing the /silent command. Messages despatched utilizing this command is not going to notify the person concerning the message, which might turn out to be useful when messaging buddies in several time zones with out disturbing them. The skill to ship messages silently with out disturbing the recipient can be discovered on rival messaging service Telegram, which launched the function in 2019.

Messenger has additionally introduced upcoming assist for a Shortcut to ship GIFs, arriving first on iOS
Photo Credit: Facebook

It is price noting that sure Facebook Messenger options introduced earlier this yr are but to be enabled for all customers on the service. In January, the corporate introduced an upgraded messaging expertise for customers in its Secret Conversations mode, which makes use of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for chats. These options embody screenshot alerts, emoji reactions, and Vanish mode, introduced forward of the corporate’s deliberate date to make use of E2EE for all chats on Messenger.

Asked concerning the delay in rolling out these options, Head of Messenger Loredana Crisan instructed Gadgets 360 that a few of these options have been being examined by the corporate for stability earlier than being rolled out to all areas.

Both the /silent and @everybody Shortcuts shall be obtainable to Facebook Messenger customers on iOS and Android units beginning right this moment, in line with the corporate. Meanwhile, the corporate can be engaged on including the flexibility to seek for and ship GIFs to customers and teams on Messenger utilizing the /gif command. Users may even be capable of use /shrug and /tableflip instructions to ship tableflip “(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻” and shrug “¯_(ツ)_/¯” emoticons on Messenger.

These three instructions shall be obtainable to customers on iOS units within the coming weeks. Messenger customers within the US may even be capable of ship and obtain cash through the use of the /pay command sooner or later, the corporate mentioned.