One of the best features of Snapchat is how simple it is to add friends and acquaintances. Users of the app can simply scan a custom code to automatically add someone to their list. Now, Facebook Messenger is incorporating similar technology.
The feature, called Messenger Code, shows the user’s profile photograph with circles and dots surrounding it. Simply scan the Messenger Code with your smartphone camera and the individual is added as a contact.
This may seem counterintuitive at first, since users have to be friends with someone to message them, but Facebook has a vision for its messaging platform. The Verge reports that Facebook plans to make its Messenger app — which currently has 900 million monthly active users — a place where people can talk to customer service bots and receive information, amongst other things.
Additionally, users can now access Messenger on their desktop without going to Facebook, and all Messenger accounts will now have a dedicated URL. The format of the URL is m.me/[username]. So, for users that want to chat with a specific friend, they can follow the format and type in the username (which is the same as a person’s Facebook username) to open up a chat window on Messenger.com.
The Messenger Code will be “rolling out gradually,” according to Messenger leader David Marcus.
“There are now over 1 billion messages sent every month between people on Messenger and Businesses/Pages,” said Marcus in a Facebook post. “Thanks to all of you, who use our beloved product to connect every day with the people and increasingly with the businesses and services that matter the most to you.”
