The use of Zoom has exploded during the coronavirus lockdowns, and now Facebook is launching its own group video chat as an alternative. Messenger Rooms will allow video chats involving as many as 50 people, who won’t have to have a Facebook account. It will be available on Facebook and its Messenger app and the chats will be free with no time limit.
People will also be able to use Facebook’s augmented reality filters or jump between chats. In order to avoid the kind of security problems Zoom users have had, including trolls “Zoombombing” chats with racist messages or porn, Messenger Rooms users who create a chat can choose participants, throw people out if needed, or lock the room.
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg the goal is to create a group video chat that’s more social and less corporate.
