Facebook Unveils Split Payments For Messenger

Facebook has officially launched split payments for Messenger, two months after saying it was testing the new feature.

The feature is now available in the U.S. on iOS and Android phones, letting users split bills evenly or customize the amount each person owes, Facebook said on its blog Wednesday (Feb. 9). To use the tool, users can select the “Get Started” button in a group chat or the Messenger payments hub.

“Then, enter a personalized message, confirm your payment details, and send the request,” the blog post said. “Friends who are new to payments in Messenger can easily add payment details to send and receive money.”

Read more: Facebook Testing ‘Split Payments’ Feature in Messenger

Facebook announced it was testing Split Payments in December in a year-in-review article.

And in an interview with PYMNTS’ Karen Webster in August, Facebook Consumer Product Management Head Meron Colbeci seemed to hint at Split Payments arrival.

He said that Facebook Pay’s goal was to expand to each aspect of Facebook experience, going any place users interact and letting them “close the loop” without needing to exit Facebook.

“We’re trying to go where our users want us to go,” Colbeci said. “So, when someone is talking about dinner last night, they can say, ‘Hey, do you mind paying me back?’ We have a way to enable that transaction right there and then.”

Meanwhile, Facebook says it is also launching new voice message recording controls that lets users pause, preview, delete, or continue recording a voice message before sending, while also increasing the duration of voice messages from one minute to half an hour.

Also, the social media giant has unveiled a feature called Vanish Mode that makes messages disappear after they’re seen.

“And if you can’t find the right words, you can also send disappearing memes, GIFs, stickers or reactions,” the blog post said. “To turn on Vanish mode, open an existing chat thread on your mobile device and swipe up. Swipe up again, and you’re back to your regular chat.”