And users can use 'Watch Together' to view Facebook Watch content with friends. For added security and in an attempt to detect scams, impersonators, and adults targeting underage users, Messenger added an in-app pop-up warning for messages deemed 'potentially harmful.' Minors who receive a message from an adult they don't know will receive an alert cautioning them about the interaction. With regards to safety features, users have the option of blocking people, ignoring incoming messages from certain senders, and reporting inappropriate, offensive, or alarming conversations. They can also view their friends' Facebook Stories, which is shared content available for 24 hours, directly through Messenger. In addition to sending stickers and GIFs in messages, users can also request or send friends money and instantly share their location. And, if they choose, users can message Instagram contacts and receive messages from Instagram as well. Users can send messages to individuals privately or to groups they've created.

Notifications can be turned off, but the user remains logged in. If notifications are turned on, users' phones make a sound or vibrate when they get a message, and users can see when someone else has viewed the messages they send. This feature is particularly handy for users who want to use Messenger but don't have a Facebook account. They also have the option to upload their contacts to the Messenger server by turning on the feature that allows contacts in the device to sync with the app.

The app syncs Facebook contacts, allowing users to message and call friends even if they don't have their actual phone number saved to their device. Users can choose to communicate through text, phone calls, video calls, voice and video messaging by sending photos and videos and/or by creating rooms for group video chat. Parents need to know that Messenger is a social networking app that works in conjunction with Facebook and allows users to connect and communicate with others in a variety of ways.