Facebook Messenger has begun testing ‘Secret Conversations’, a feature that enables end to end encryption for conversations within Messenger with private messages that can disapear. Messenger Secret Conversations from Facebook on Vimeo. The messages become hidden after a certain period of time chosen by the author. Senders must choose one device to use it on, […]
Facebook Messenger has begun testing ‘Secret Conversations’, a feature that enables end to end encryption for conversations within Messenger with private messages that can disapear.
Messenger Secret Conversations from Facebook on Vimeo.
The messages become hidden after a certain period of time chosen by the author. Senders must choose one device to use it on, as messages sent this way are stored on the device itself.
Those flagged to “disappear” will be deleted from the device as well.
“Starting a secret conversation with someone is optional,” it said.
“Secret conversations can only be read on one device and we recognise that experience may not be right for everyone.”
Facebook listed health and financial issues as examples of messages that people may wish to keep more private – while others have mentioned love affairs.
The idea is being trialled on a “limited basis”, Facebook said, but added that it would be more widely available over the summer.
Video and GIFs cannot be shared secretly at the moment.
The service will also have extra features for reporting abuse – and once this is introduced, there will be a delay in the deletion of messages to enable flagging.
“Facebook will never have access to plain text messages unless one participant in a secret conversation voluntarily reports the conversation,” it explained in a technical document.
Read the official blog announcement here
