Facebook Messenger starts taking over Instagram Direct messages

Enlarge / Instagram's merger message. (credit: The Verge)

Last year, Facebook announced a plan to merge its three big messaging networks: someday WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram Direct would all be the same service. Late Friday, The Verge spotted the first move toward Facebook's unified messaging utopia- Facebook Messenger is taking over Instagram messaging.

On Friday, the Instagram app started popping up a message saying, "There's a new way to message on Instagram." Besides cross-communication between Instagram and Facebook users, the update promises a "new colorful look," emoji reactions, and the ability to swipe to reply to messages. Instagram's messaging icon changes to a Facebook Messenger logo when you update. The update appears to be rolling out across iOS and Android, and for now, the transition is optional.

In a statement to The Verge, Facebook said, A small set of people were able to update to a new test experience for Instagram messaging. We hope they enjoy the experience and we are looking forward to testing it in other countries so we can keep learning from this." Anecdotally this rollout seems a lot bigger than "a small set of people," but we'll have to take Facebook's word for it.

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