messenger: Facebook to let you do cross-app group chats between Instagram and Messenger – Times of India

Facebook has deepened its integration with Instagram with a new move that lets people import their contacts between Messenger and Instagram and do cross-app group chats.
The new feature is a part of new updates rolled out for Facebook Messenger. However, Facebook says that users will have the same level of control over who can contact you.
“You’ll still have the same controls over who can reach you. With delivery controls, you decide who reaches your Chats List, who goes to your Message Request folder, and who can’t message or call you. We love adding fun new features, but our number one priority is keeping safety and privacy top of mind!”, claimed Facebook in a blog post.
Facebook also claimed that “over 70% of eligible people on Instagram have updated to the new Messenger experience to enjoy new features like cross-app communication.”
In addition to support for cross-app chats, Facebook is also introducing polls to Instagram DMs
Also, there are new Group Typing Indicators that will let you know when others are typing.
Coming to expression and personalisation tools, Facebook is adding the Cottagecore chat theme which it says is inspired by a romanticised pastoral world. Then there is a J Balvin-related chat theme inspired by the album artwork. There is an Astrology art suite also, with an Astrology AR effect.