Facebook Messenger gets a new update that let you send silent replies and GIFs

• Facebook Messenger has been updated with a new feature called Shortcuts.
• Thanks to this feature, users will also be able to send ASCII emoticons and GIFs.
• Shortcuts feature within the Messenger app allows users to send commands quickly and easily.
  

Facebook Messenger is all set to get a new feature called Shortcuts, allowing users on Android and iOS to issue commands in chats to notify everyone in a group and to send a silent message, among other things. Yow can also send ASCII emoticons and GIFs on Facebook Messenger.

The Meta-owned messaging service revealed that using the Shortcuts feature, users can type @everyone and the /silent command to send the message without any notification. Moreover, this is a Slack-like shortcuts feature in Facebook Messenger. This new command can be also used to seek the attention of a group member or reminder for an old message.

One of the Shortcuts features includes the /silent command that lets a user send a message on Messenger without notifying the recipient. This can be useful when the receiver is busy or in a meeting, so they don’t have to worry about notifications disturbing them.

Meta is also working on the ability to search and send GIFs to groups and users on Messenger by using the /gif command.

These new Shortcuts features will be available for Facebook Messenger users on iOS and Android right away.

Some examples of these shortcuts along with what they mean/do

• @everyone will let you notify everyone in a group chat
  
• /silent will let you send a message without pinging the whole group
  

Some other handful shortcuts likely to be available by May 2022

• /pay will let you send or request money (on iOS and Android in the US)
  
• /gif and a topic will serve up potential GIFs to send in a chat (on iOS)
  
• /shrug will drop the ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ emoticon (on iOS)
  
• /tableflip will bring up the (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ emoticon (on iOS)
  

Earlier this year, Facebook Messenger announced an update that allows users to use Secret Conversations mode. It uses end-to-end encryption for messaging. In addition, the update also introduced emoji reactions, screenshot alerts, and vanish mode.

See also:

iPhones reported as stolen will no longer be repaired by Apple

Sony announced PlayStation Plus relaunch clubbed with three-tiered plans in June — here’s how much it’ll cost

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G review – excellent display, great battery life but slightly pricey