Great news for everyone concerned about their privacy, especially those frequent users of Messenger. End-to-end encryption is now the default for one-on-one conversations and calls on Facebook Messenger. This means your interactions will be safe from curious and privy eyes.

End-to-end encryption was once an optional feature on Messenger, but this latest update is now the standard. This is a significant change, albeit a positive one for the messenger app, as its users can feel more secure with their messages and conversations that are now under lock and key, and their messages will be automatically protected, too, with no need to turn on the option.

With end-to-end encryptions, no matter who you are conversing with, all the contents of your message are protected and unable to be intercepted. Not even Meta can access them unless specifically reported.

Nothing else to worry about as all the messenger functions will stay the same, so you can still use all your favourite features. Features like themes, custom reactions, and other messenger tools will still be accessible in encrypted chats.

Of course, the implementation of this adjustment will take some time. So don’t be concerned if you haven’t seen the changeover yet. It will happen gradually over the following months. While Messenger’s chats are now encrypted by default, this isn’t applied to Instagram chats yet. Currently, they are still unencrypted by default. However, Meta has stated that this feature will be included “shortly after” the launch of encrypted Messenger.

This shift towards end-to-end encryption is part of a more significant trend in the tech sector. For a good reason, an increasing number of messaging systems are making the switch. It is simply the best approach to ensure your chats remain private and secure, which is only meant between you and the others messaging.

Among the exciting shift in security for messenger chats they are also adding some new features that are sure to have messenger users jumping with joy as they are much needed after so long. Some new features also being implemented are the ability to edit messages sent under 15 minutes, similar to WhatsApp. So, no longer will you have to delete or resend a message. You can now just as easily edit it through the original one.

Besides that, they are also adding disappearing messages, which will last about 24 hours after it is sent, so this will ensure more secure or private messaging scenes for those who would not have a specific message kept for long. And they are also implementing a screenshot security feature, so if anyone were to try to take a screenshot of your disappearing message, you will be notified of the actions.

Messenger is also adding a way for users to finally control their read receipts, so instead of turning off the entire thing, users can now decide if they want others to see if they have read their messages. Lastly, Meta is proud to announce that with these updates on Messenger, they have upgraded the quality of images and videos sent in Messenger.

They are also testing an HD media and file-sharing feature to improve its quality for messenger users continuously. Among that, they are also adding a feature that will allow the user to fast forward their voice messages up to 1.5 or 2X speed and the ability to navigate away from the chat while listening to the voice message. Currently, these are the most significant updates and improvements done to Messenger in a long time and were much needed.