Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. News

Voice commands could be coming to Facebook Messenger

Eric Brackett
By

Facebook is working on some new improvements for Facebook Messenger. Perhaps the most intriguing of these new features are the test voice commands which TechCrunch reports are in internal development at Facebook.

According to the development code for Messenger’s Android app, future versions of the app could contain an ‘M’ Messenger assistant button which would be used to activate voice commands. The details of the app’s functionality haven’t been revealed, and are likely still in development. Some obvious benefits could include composing messages while driving, making Messenger easier to use for those with certain disabilities, or perhaps even translation capabilities.

Recommended Videos

While Facebook isn’t ready to announce anything about the future of voice commands for Messenger, the company did confirm that the software was being tested internally.

“We often experiment with new experiences on Messenger with employees. We have nothing more to share at this time,” a Facebook representative told TechCrunch.

Considering how many different options users have for messaging services, it’s not surprising that Facebook is eager to come up with ways to entice users away from iMessage or other competitors. Some of those features aren’t always a success, but the voice commands might prove to be a hit. Unlike some of the other concepts which Facebook has tried, such as integrating games into Messenger, the voice commands won’t distract users from the core experience of using the service.  Instead, they’ll simply provide a new way for users to utilize Messenger when they’re driving or otherwise unable to type out a message.

Of course, there is no guarantee that voice commands will be coming to Messenger anytime soon. Facebook’s comments to TechCrunch gave no indication about how far along in development the feature is. It could be ready within a matter of weeks or it could launch sometime next year. On the other hand, it’s possible that this feature will never see the light of day. Companies often conduct internal testing of new features and many of those never reach public users. If Facebook feels that voice commands aren’t a good fit for Messenger, it may simply remain an idle curiosity.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Eric Brackett
Eric Brackett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
More status options coming to Twitter, including ‘don’t @ me’
Twitter app on the OnePlus 10T.

Twitter's Status feature might be shaping up to be kind of useful. That is, if its latest update ends up sticking around.

On Monday, Jane Manchun Wong tweeted an image of various status options that Twitter Status apparently now offers. While the image did include a few options that had already existed (such as "Spoiler Alert" and "Hot Take"), the image also shows that a number of new status options have appeared. And as Wong notes in her tweet, some of these new statuses include common Twitter slang phrases like "That's it, that's the Tweet," and "Don't @ me."

Read more
When is the best time to post on Facebook?
A smartphone with the Facebook app icon on it all on a white marble background.

Knowing when to publish your Facebook posts to gain maximum exposure is important if you're trying to bring more attention to your brand or business. But figuring out the best timing can be a bit tricky as there's no real clear-cut answer that works for every Facebook page. And that's because the optimal timing for different Facebook pages will vary depending on the browsing/viewing habits of their respective audiences.

In the guide below, we'll answer a few of your questions about when to post on Facebook (generally), and we'll mention some ways to figure out the best publish times for your specific Facebook page.
Is it better to post in the morning or at night?

Read more
This beloved TikTok feature is coming to YouTube Shorts
Two mobile devices showing two people dancing in YouTube Shorts videos.

YouTube Shorts, the video-sharing website's answer to TikTok videos, is getting a new comment reply feature and with it, looks more like its wildly popular competitor.

On Thursday, the new feature was announced via an update to a YouTube Help thread titled "New Features and Updates for Shorts Viewers & Creators." The announcement was posted by a TeamYouTube community manager.

Read more