Facebook Messenger Update: How To Use Reactions, Mentions

Facebook introduced on Thursday two features for Messenger: Reactions and Mentions.

The message Reaction function is similar to how users can react on iMessage for iOS devices. However, iMessage has six reaction options, whereas Facebook has seven: love, smile, wow, sad, angry, thumb up and thumb down emojis. Messenger Reactions works on group and one on one chats, and on all messages, including GIFs, stickers, photos, videos and emojis.

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How Facebook Messenger Reactions Work

If you’re in a group chat and someone sends a picture of a cute cat, you can respond using one of the Messenger Reactions, just press and hold on the specific message and then tap on the emoji you prefer.

The lower corner of the message shows how people have reacted to a message, tapping on the emojis will expand details showing all the people who have reacted to the message and which way.

Like iMessage, a small animation will appear when reacting to a message.

You’ll also get notifications on message Reactions if you’re not on the app. On your device’s home screen, you’ll be notified on who reacted to your message and how.

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How To Use Facebook Messenger Mentions

The second feature Facebook introduced is Mentions, which means you don’t have to scroll throughout entire group conversations to see if someone sent a message addressed to you.

With Messenger Mentions, you’ll be notified when you’re mentioned in a conversation, similar to Slack.

To mention someone, just type “@” and the first letter of the name of the person you want to notify and select from the list. The sent message will have the “@” and name highlighted in blue so others in the group chat can see.

Everyone in the chat will get the message you are notified in, but you’ll be notified that the message was addressed to you. Notification for mentions can be turned off.

Both features will start rolling out Thursday and will be available worldwide in the coming days. The features will available for Work Chat in Workplace, Facebook’s communications platform for businesses. The platform said the updates will improve group chats and make them more “fun and useful.”