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As convenient as they are, instant messengers can be extremely data hungry. With all the links, GIFs, photos and videos that you can share across these platforms now, data packs exhaust at an amazing speed. In order to tackle the issue, Facebook is now reportedly working on a new addition to its Facebook Messenger, which will allow users to switch the app on a data saving mode. Currently, Facebook is testing the feature on the Beta version of its Android app, reports The Next Web. However, users can expect the Data Saver feature to show up in the mainstream branch of Facebook Messenger sooner or later.
The new feature, which is very similar to
WhatsApp ’s data saving mode, effectively works on altering how the Messenger downloads any media content a user receives. Essentially, up until now, whatever media a user shared on the app, an image or video, it would automatically download, using up data, regardless of if a user wants to view that data in the first place. With the new feature, the app will enable ‘click to download’ option for images and videos when a user is using their cellular data. Which means, when the ‘Data Save’ mode is on, a user will have to tap on individual videos and images that they choose to download. Along with that, the beta version also comes with a tool, which shows the user how much data it has saved. This can be reset as required, which should be helpful to those on a rolling monthly data plan. Additionally, it is worth mention out that the Data Saver mode only works when the device is being used on cellular data. The moment a user switches to a Wi-Fi hotspot, the Messenger reverts back to normal.
As we pointed out earlier, Facebook Messenger’s Data Save mode is very similar to that in Facebook -owned WhatsApp, which is quite possibly even borrowed. WhatsApp also allows a user to manually choose the media they want to download in the data saving mode. Additionally, WhatsApp also has a feature, which allows users to save space on their phone, by restricting the media from being downloaded to the gallery of the phones.
Facebook has incessantly been at it to make the user experience on Messenger more wholesome. Earlier, Facebook had launched a Lite version of its mainstream app for Android users. The Lite version, about 500KB in size, is aimed at low-end smartphones and slower networks like 2G. Facebook Lite is essentially a stripped down version of the main app but retains core features like push notifications, messaging and ads. Back in March this year, the company announced its Facebook Lite had gone past 100 million monthly active users, emerging as the fastest growing Facebook app.
Just like the Data Save mode, Facebook has constantly been adding some old, new and borrowed features to the messaging platform. Recently, Facebook was reported to have been testing a Snapchat Stores-like feature on the Messenger. Facebook tested the feature in Poland earlier this month, where under the guise of celebrating the “Messenger Day”, it had rolled out a new tool which allowed users on Messenger to click and upload photos and videos, that are visible to all their friends. These uploads disappeared within 24 hours of being put up. And yes, these Messenger Stories can also be decorated using stickers, tests and doodles, just like in Snapchat, and now in Instagram Stories.
Just two weeks ago, Facebook Messenger rolled out a new ‘Secret Conversation’ feature to the app. The secret conversation feature is also very similar to the concept that is offered by Snapchat . The new Secret Conversation feature allows a user to choose to have a regular or a secret conversation with a particular recipient. The Secret Conversation allows users to send messages that are end-to-end encrypted, which means that the particular conversation is accessible only to the recipient and sender, and no one else (including Facebook). Additionally, the new feature allows users to set a timer to a particular message they send, which means that the message will self-destruct after the predefined time. So by choosing the secret conversation option, a user can engage in an encrypted chat with a particular recipient instead of a regular conversation.
Also, last month, Facebook Messenger rolled out a new feature called ‘Instant Video’, which again looks pretty inspired from Snapchat’s instant videos. The Instant Video feature sends a live feed by tapping on the video icon, which is placed on the top right corner of the chat screen. As you begin the live feed, the video floats over the active chat conversation and the live feed and chat can be viewed at the same time.
Facebook Messenger to borrow WhatsApp’s data saving mode
The new feature, which is very similar to
WhatsApp ’s data saving mode, effectively works on altering how the Messenger downloads any media content a user receives. Essentially, up until now, whatever media a user shared on the app, an image or video, it would automatically download, using up data, regardless of if a user wants to view that data in the first place. With the new feature, the app will enable ‘click to download’ option for images and videos when a user is using their cellular data. Which means, when the ‘Data Save’ mode is on, a user will have to tap on individual videos and images that they choose to download. Along with that, the beta version also comes with a tool, which shows the user how much data it has saved. This can be reset as required, which should be helpful to those on a rolling monthly data plan. Additionally, it is worth mention out that the Data Saver mode only works when the device is being used on cellular data. The moment a user switches to a Wi-Fi hotspot, the Messenger reverts back to normal.
As we pointed out earlier, Facebook Messenger’s Data Save mode is very similar to that in Facebook -owned WhatsApp, which is quite possibly even borrowed. WhatsApp also allows a user to manually choose the media they want to download in the data saving mode. Additionally, WhatsApp also has a feature, which allows users to save space on their phone, by restricting the media from being downloaded to the gallery of the phones.
Facebook has incessantly been at it to make the user experience on Messenger more wholesome. Earlier, Facebook had launched a Lite version of its mainstream app for Android users. The Lite version, about 500KB in size, is aimed at low-end smartphones and slower networks like 2G. Facebook Lite is essentially a stripped down version of the main app but retains core features like push notifications, messaging and ads. Back in March this year, the company announced its Facebook Lite had gone past 100 million monthly active users, emerging as the fastest growing Facebook app.
Just like the Data Save mode, Facebook has constantly been adding some old, new and borrowed features to the messaging platform. Recently, Facebook was reported to have been testing a Snapchat Stores-like feature on the Messenger. Facebook tested the feature in Poland earlier this month, where under the guise of celebrating the “Messenger Day”, it had rolled out a new tool which allowed users on Messenger to click and upload photos and videos, that are visible to all their friends. These uploads disappeared within 24 hours of being put up. And yes, these Messenger Stories can also be decorated using stickers, tests and doodles, just like in Snapchat, and now in Instagram Stories.
Just two weeks ago, Facebook Messenger rolled out a new ‘Secret Conversation’ feature to the app. The secret conversation feature is also very similar to the concept that is offered by Snapchat . The new Secret Conversation feature allows a user to choose to have a regular or a secret conversation with a particular recipient. The Secret Conversation allows users to send messages that are end-to-end encrypted, which means that the particular conversation is accessible only to the recipient and sender, and no one else (including Facebook). Additionally, the new feature allows users to set a timer to a particular message they send, which means that the message will self-destruct after the predefined time. So by choosing the secret conversation option, a user can engage in an encrypted chat with a particular recipient instead of a regular conversation.
Also, last month, Facebook Messenger rolled out a new feature called ‘Instant Video’, which again looks pretty inspired from Snapchat’s instant videos. The Instant Video feature sends a live feed by tapping on the video icon, which is placed on the top right corner of the chat screen. As you begin the live feed, the video floats over the active chat conversation and the live feed and chat can be viewed at the same time.
Facebook Messenger to borrow WhatsApp’s data saving mode
