COVID-19 has made face-to-face and in-person meetings obsolete as people try to avoid big or small gatherings to prevent the spread of the deadly disease. To stay in touch with family, friends, and colleagues, there are a plethora of apps that people can use like Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, and the Facebook Messenger Rooms.
These applications help people reconnect with others, even if it is only virtual. Since many are already familiar with Skype and Zoom because they are the first apps that were available to the public, this article will solely be for the Facebook Messenger Rooms.
This video chat application can be used on any device, either a computer or a mobile device. Even non-Facebook users can also use it with just the link. So how do this works and how to set-up your own Facebook Messenger Rooms in different devices?
Mobile App
According to a report by Business Insider, the Facebook Messenger Rooms is also accessible via mobile phones. To start using it, open the Facebook Messenger app on the phone and click the "Chats" button at the bottom of the screen.
Then, tap "Create Room" icon in which a page will introduce to the user how the Messenger feature will work by inviting up to 50 guests in the room using a link which enables other guests in joining the Facebook Messenger Rooms even if they do not have a Facebook account.
After that, click "Room Activity" to customize the name of the room. Facebook has already options in which users can select which name to give the room, or they can create their own.
Click "Who can join automatically" and click "Anyone with the link" or "People you invite." You can also schedule the meeting by choosing the option "Schedule for later" and input the preferred date and time.
Another screen will flash in which the user is asked to select the Facebook friends they wish to include in the Messenger Rooms. You may also copy the link and send it to invites via email or text. Tap "Done" if you have already invited your friends.
Friend invites can access the Messenger Rooms by clicking on the link. Then once the invites are already in the Messenger Rooms, you can now lock the room, add a virtual background, and also add or remove guests.
Desktop App
Like using the mobile app, the user must open the Facebook Messenger app in the desktop to begin. A banner may appear at the top of the left side panel if it is the first time of the user to use the desktop version of the app. Click the "Messenger Rooms: button and then the "Try it."
But if you have already used the Facebook Messenger Rooms before, click the "Create Rooms." The "Try It" option will appear.
The same as the mobile app, click "Who can discover and join?" and choose the option "Friends you invite and people with the link" or "Only friends you invite," whichever you prefer. You can also schedule the meeting on your desired date and time, then click "Create Room."
With the desktop app, you can choose to share your screen, invite more friends using a shareable link, and see call participants. At the bottom right corner is your image.
Facebook Website
Not much is different from using the desktop app as with Facebook's website itself. First, log in to your Facebook account in which the "Rooms" module is seen underneath the "what's on your mind?" module. Click the "Create Room" button from there.
Like the desktop app version, click "Room activity" then "Who is invited?" to choose from your friend list and click "Start time" to set up a date.
Then click the "Create a Room" again in which a list of FB friends can be seen and a shareable link for your friends that are not on Facebook. Like the desktop app, your image is located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
How to Join?
In a report by PC Mag, it said that to click the "Join" button if someone has already created a Messenger Room. Then click again "Join" on the next screen. You can see other people in the video call once inside the Messenger Room.
Check out more news and information on Video Conferencing on Science Times.
