Facebook Messenger (Photo : Facebook)
Facebook is now rolling out a software update to its Messenger app, which includes the Photo Magic feature the social network has been testing since November. The instant messaging (IM) upgrade is just in time for the holiday season, reminding smartphone users to send photographs to people captured in Christmas Day and New Year's Eve pics. Its facial recognition tech uses artificial intelligence to determine each person in the snapped picture such as friends and family members, and then asks the IM service's users to send them those images.
The world's largest social network has been testing the new facial recognition tech in Australia since November, according to CBCNews. Photo Magic will be launched throughout the world except in the European Union and Canada, possibly due to privacy laws.
Facebook Messenger users can also make a group thread. They can then easily share other group pictures.
The new feature can be turned on or off in Settings. In addition, people can also choose if they want the facial recognition software to pick up their happy, sad, or surprised faces in photographs.
Messenger's updates also include many new customization features for Android and iOS devices. They include brand new colors and emojis, as well as the ability to add nicknames to IM contacts such as "Dad" and "Mom," according to GSMArena.
A holiday treat makes it snow inside a Messenger conversation when users send a Christmas tree, Santa, or snow-related emoji or sticker. Meanwhile, the snow globe effect will also be available through Chat Android in some regions.
The IM's digital snow effect will change when New Year's Even arrives. It will switch to confetti then.
Facebook Messenger has over 700 million years, which is about half the size of the parent company's total worldwide users. It hopes its Messenger app will help it to compete better with Snapchat and other rivals.
