Facebook is trying to do more to help those who use its Messenger platform during the video-call epidemic that has gripped our lives for far too long. But it's only a small amount.
Facebook announced Friday that voice and video calls made through the Messenger app will now be encrypted at all times. This is effective immediately. Encryption is a form of protection that makes sure messages can only be read by the sender and recipient. The only problem is that encryption must be activated. If you don't, your calls could become vulnerable to data theft.
This is the same approach Facebook uses with Messenger text chats. They label them "Secret Conversations" within their app, making it difficult to activate. Messenger chats that don't enable encryption by default are likely to be less secure than they should be. This will also be true for voice and video calls.
Encrypted conversations now have more sophisticated disappearing message options. Messenger users can now set messages to disappear. However, instead of being restricted to a time interval like 24 hours or one hour, users can choose to have messages disappear in any amount between 5 seconds and 24 hours.
Facebook stated that it will also test group calls using the same technology in the near future. Encryption on one-on-1 DM conversations within the Instagram app is also listed in the "coming soon” column. It will be available in a limited test capacity for adults living in "certain countries", and it is also opt-in. To turn it on, both parties must follow each other. This is the same policy as Messenger.
Even though it takes some digging to activate, this is a necessary and useful upgrade for Messenger calls. Facebook claims that there are over 150 million of these calls per day. Therefore, any additional protection can be helpful. It is a shame that not all users are aware of this possibility.
