Skip to main content

Facebook Messenger adds in-app video recording, bigger thumbs

woman serves divorce papers on facebook messenger
Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr

Facebook Messenger may be playing catch-up in the great messaging app race, but the near-constant flow of enhancements should ensure that more people get roped into using the service. In a new update, Facebook added the ability to send video messages to friends and a bigger thumbs-up symbol, for when you really, really like something your friend said.

facebook_big-like_video
We tried it, and it works. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Now, you can either “Like” something or you can “Big Like” something. To get the giant blue thumb, all you have to do is press down on the like button a little longer than usual. Then, the biggest blue thumbs-up you’ve probably ever seen will pop up on the screen for you and your friend to see.

A similar action is required to send a short, 15-second video message. When you hold down the picture button, the app automatically knows that you want to send your friend a short video and opens up the camera app to let you begin filming. Previously, Facebook only let you send pre-recorded videos, but with this update, you can now shoot and send impromptu videos from inside the app.

Of course, sharing and shooting videos within the messaging app itself is very common. WhatsApp and several others have been offering the exact same service for a long time already.

Facebook Messenger’s capabilities were rather lacking up until recently, when Facebook started to add new features. Now that the social network has pushed Messenger out of its main app and added all the bells and whistles we expect from a quality messaging app, it looks like the app’s fortunes could rise. The new update is available for download now on iOS and Android.

(Image via Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr)

Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
The best Halloween apps and games for a spook-tacular October 31
Halloween apps

Somehow Halloween is right around the corner again, but there's still time to decorate the house, stock up on candy, and get into the spirit of things with a 3D-printed costume. We're here to help you get ready for the most terrifying Halloween ever with our pick of the best Halloween apps, ghoulish games, and petrifying podcasts around.
Best Halloween games
Oxenfree

The first game on our list is the hit supernatural thriller Oxenfree. When a group of partying teens accidentally unlock a ghostly rift, you must make choices to decide what happens next. Explore a haunted island, contact the supernatural, forge or destroy friendships, and enjoy a cool 80s setting complete with an original soundtrack. You'll need a Netflix membership to enjoy Oxenfree on mobile, but it's free to play and its spooky vibe will stick with you long after the end credits roll. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals lands sometime next year, too, making this the perfect time to play the first game.
Apple Google Play

Read more
AT&T just made it a lot easier to upgrade your phone
AT&T Storefront with logo.

Do you want to upgrade your phone more than once a year? What about three times a year? Are you on AT&T? If you answered yes to those questions, then AT&T’s new “Next Up Anytime” early upgrade program is made for you. With this add-on, you’ll be able to upgrade your phone three times a year for just $10 extra every month. It will be available starting July 16.

Currently, AT&T has its “Next Up” add-on, which has been available for the past several years. This program costs $6 extra per month and lets you upgrade by trading in your existing phone after at least half of it is paid off. But the new Next Up Anytime option gives you some more flexibility.

Read more
Motorola is selling unlocked smartphones for just $150 today
Someone holding the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024).

Have you been looking for phone deals but don’t want to spend a ton of money on flagship devices from Apple and Samsung? Have you ever considered investing in an unlocked Motorola? For a limited time, the company is offering a $100 markdown on the Motorola Moto G 5G. It can be yours for just $150, and your days and nights of phone-shopping will finally be over!

Why you should buy the Motorola Moto G 5G
Powered by the Snapdragon 480+ 5G CPU and 4GB of RAM, the Moto G delivers exceptional performance across the board. From UI navigation to apps, games, and camera functions, you can expect fast load times, next to no buffering, and smooth animations. You’ll also get up to 128GB of internal storage that you’ll be able to use for photos, videos, music, and any other mobile content you can store locally. 

Read more