Facebook Messenger rolls out Rooms for topic-based chats with strangers

Facebook Messenger's Rooms is aimed at encouraging topic-based conversations with people who share the same kind of interests.

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Facebook has rolled out Rooms on Messenger for topic-based chats with strangers. (Representational Image)

Remember chatrooms on Yahoo Messenger? Well Facebook Messenger could is working on something similar. Facebook has rolled out a new messaging feature called Rooms for its Messenger app in Australia. The social media giant is currently testing the feature and will roll out the same in Canada next. It is expected to launch in other markets soon.

Rooms allows users to talk to strangers on a specific topic. The option is available inside the Messenger app and users can create groups to invite others, who share the same interests. Rooms is aimed at encouraging topic-based conversations with people who might not be on your friends list, although you can also talk to Facebook friends in these Rooms.

Australia’s Courier Mail quotes Facebook Messenger product manager Drew Moxon who explains, “Group chats today are focused on people you know — friends and family — and what we’ve found by talking to users is there’s a lot of need for conversations about specific topics.”

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Facebook has been experimenting with its Messenger app to make it more useful and engaging. According to earlier reports, the social media giant is testing a new Snapchat-like feature called Messenger Day for Messenger app. The feature is similar to Snapchat Stories and was first spotted by users in Poland. Messenger Day allows users to add graphics or text on to pictures and short videos before sharing with friends.

Facebook Messenger now has a an option for Secret Conversations for end-to-end encrypted chats. Facebook Messenger’s Secret conversations can only be read on one device, and doesn’t support rich content like GIFs and videos, making payments, or other popular features.

It is interesting to see Facebook push Rooms on Messenger. Let’s not forget on Messenger there is a ‘Message Request’ option, which replaced the earlier ‘Others Folder.’ People who are not Facebook friends can send message requests if they wish to chat with someone. And a lot of people, especially women, are likely to ignore these requests from strangers. However, it looks with Rooms, Facebook is determined to make people who are not Facebook friends, chat together.

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