Facebook Messenger
- [Iceland - Janis R.]
- Overview
Facebook Messenger offers a free and convenient solution for group video conferencing, making it a viable option for personal and casual group interactions.
Here are some key aspects:
- No Time Limit: You can conduct group video calls for as long as you like without any time restrictions.
- Participant Capacity: You can include up to 50 people in a Messenger Room video conference.
- Data Usage: While the service itself is free, the video call will consume data, especially if you are using a cellular data plan instead of Wi-Fi. The amount of data consumed varies depending on the quality of the video and the stability of your internet connection.
- Availability: Messenger's video chat feature is available through the Messenger mobile apps (iOS and Android) and the Facebook website.
- Privacy Features: Messenger Rooms include privacy controls, allowing the room creator to choose who can see and join, kick people out, and lock the room to prevent new entrants.
For example, to start a Messenger group video call
- Open an existing group chat or start a new one.
- Tap the video camera icon located at the top right of the chat window.
- Everyone in the group will be notified and can join the video call with a single tap.
- Messenger Rooms and Ways to Connect
Anyone with a Facebook account or the Messenger app can join a Facebook Messenger group video call, even if they aren't Facebook friends with all the members. Additionally, Facebook Messenger Rooms allow for even broader participation, enabling anyone with a link to join a video chat, regardless of whether they have a Facebook account.
Facebook Messenger Group Video Calls:
- Non-friends can join: As long as they have a Facebook account or the Messenger app, individuals can join a group video call if they are invited by someone in the group or are sent an invite link.
- Limited to Messenger: This feature is specific to Facebook Messenger, not all of Facebook's video call options.
Facebook Messenger Rooms:
- Broader access: Messenger Rooms are designed for wider participation. You can create a room using the Facebook or Messenger app and share a link with anyone, including those without a Facebook account, to join the call.
- No Facebook account needed: Unlike standard Messenger group calls, a Facebook account isn't a requirement for joining a Messenger Room, as long as you have the link.
- Room controls: As the room creator, you can control who can join and remove participants, ensuring some level of privacy and security.
- No time limits: Messenger Rooms also offer the advantage of no time limits on the calls.
- To Start a Group Video or Audio Call on Facebook Messenger
To start a group video or audio call on Facebook Messenger, open the group chat and tap the video camera icon for a video call or the phone icon for an audio call.1. To start a group video call:
- Open the group chat: Navigate to the specific group chat in Messenger where you want to initiate the call.
- Start the call: Tap the video camera icon at the top right of the chat window.
- Optional: Create a Messenger Room: For larger groups or scheduled calls, you can also create a Messenger Room, which allows for up to 50 participants.
- Open the group chat: Similar to video calls, open the group chat in Messenger.
- Start the call: Tap the phone icon at the top right of the chat window.
- Optional: Enable noise suppression: In the call settings, you can toggle on noise suppression to reduce background noise.
- To Join a Group Video or Audio Call on Facebook Messenger
- If a call is already in progress, you can join by tapping the video camera icon within the group chat.
- To start a new call, open the group chat and tap the video camera or phone icon. You can also create a Messenger Room for group calls, which allows you to invite friends to join a virtual room for video chats.
- How to Create and Share a Facebook Messenger Group Link
To create a group chat link on Facebook Messenger, navigate to the group chat, tap on the group name or info icon, and find the "Invite Link" or "Share Group Link" option.
If available, toggle it on to generate a shareable link. Copy the link and share it with anyone you want to join the group.
Note that you may need to be an admin of the group to enable the invite link.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Step 1. Open the Messenger app: Launch the Facebook Messenger app on your mobile device.
- Step 2. Go to the group chat: Open the specific group chat for which you want to create a link.
- Step 3. Access group info: iOS: Tap on the group's name at the top of the screen; Android: Tap the "i" (info) icon in the top right corner, or tap the group's name.
- Step 4. Find the invite link option: Locate the "Invite Link" or "Share Group Link" option in the group info section.
- Step 5. Enable the link: Toggle the invite link on or tap to generate it.
- Step 6. Copy and share: Copy the generated link and share it with the people you want to join the group.
- Important Security and Privacy Considerations
The New Group option in Facebook Messenger lets you create a group chat by selecting members, naming the group, and adding a group photo. You can add up to 250 members to a group chat.
In theory, you can copy and paste a Messenger group video or audio call link on a conference website. However, there are some important considerations and limitations to be aware of.
- Security and Privacy: Links shared in Messenger chats may contain private information, and sharing them publicly may reveal that information. While personal Messenger chats are end-to-end encrypted, communication metadata may still be accessible to Facebook and potentially third parties through legal means or data breaches. In a professional conference setting, for increased security and control, consider using a platform-specific embed method or a dedicated conference platform.
- Quick, Informal Communication: Sharing a Messenger link may be acceptable for smaller, less formal gatherings, or when the convenience of Messenger is a priority.
- For professional and structured meetings: It is usually best to use a dedicated video conferencing platform such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet, which offer more robust features and embed options designed for such purposes.
