This is why your Facebook Messenger app looks different

Those who have updated their phone's Facebook Messenger app to the latest version should notice a few changes.

For one, the colour of the icon is now different - a tweak which signifies a raft of new features that have come to the messaging service.

“More than a billion people already use Messenger as a place to share, hang out and express themselves with family and friends,” Instagram chief Adam Mosseri and vice president of Facebook Messenger, Stan Chudnovsky, wrote in a Facebook blog post.

Here is everything you need to know about the update.

Why is the logo a different colour?

Facebook said the new look logo is designed to “mark our continued evolution from a simple way to message your Facebook friends, to a place to hang out with your favourite people, on your favourite apps and devices."

The logo has turned from the familiar but minimalist blue and white colour scheme, to a more eye-catching mix of blue, pink, orange, and purple. It gives the app a distinctive new look, letting it have its own identity while aligning it with Facebook’s other apps, like Instagram, with which Messenger will soon be merging.

"We’re connecting the Messenger and Instagram experience to bring some of the best Messenger features to Instagram, so you have access to the best messaging experience, no matter which app you use,” said Chudnovsky.

“Messages and calls from friends and family using Instagram will stay in your Instagram app. The main change is that people using the Messenger app can now reach you on Instagram without you needing to download a new app, and vice versa."

The social media giant confirmed that the integration will begin rolling out across North America “soon”, but have not yet announced when UK based users will see the update.

What else is new?

Alongside Instagram integration and the new look logo, Facebook also revealed a number of new features to come to Messenger.

The Watch Together features lets you watch videos, TV shows, and movies with your friends over Messenger Video Chat and Rooms when you can't be together. You’ll also be able to capture every moment and reaction in real time.

There are new Custom Reactions which users can modify to their liking, and you’ll be able to choose from fun themes and colours to make your chats more personal.

For more information, head to Facebook’s blog post

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister title, the Scotsman