New Facebook Search designed to compete against Google's core business and challenge Twitter's news product. (Photo : REUTERS)
Social network giant Facebook is planning to remove the Other Folder feature on its Messenger app and replace it with a new feature called Message Requests. This new feature will allow people to send message to other Facebook users even if they are not within each other's' immediate circle.
For those unfamiliar with the Other Folder feature, it is where messages from non-friends are stored. Other messages categorized as spam are also directed into the Other inbox in order to make sure that it will not overload the users' legit Inbox.
In a statement picked up by Venture Beat, Facebook vice president of messaging products said, "Today, we're excited to start rolling our Message Requests for Messenger. We truly want to make Messenger the place where you can find and privately connect with anyone you need to reach, but only be reached by the people you want to communicate with."
Many tech analysts said that the introduction of Message Requests is part of Facebook's transition in order to reel in more businesses and integrate itself into third-party services.
When a Facebook user receives a Message Requests, they will be able to view the sender's name, along with some basic profile information and the message itself. If they decide to reply to that message, their message will be moved from the Message Requests folder into their regular inbox, according to PC World.
The introduction of this new feature have stirred a debate especially regarding online privacy. Netizens suspect that this new feature will serve as a tool for harassment since it makes it easier to contact people on Facebook and connect with them for random reasons.
