Yes, Messenger does have group chats. Group chats allow multiple people to communicate in the same conversation thread. This can be a useful way for friends, families, coworkers, classmates, and other groups to stay connected.
Group chats have become a popular feature on many messaging platforms. They provide a more streamlined way for small groups to have conversations compared to individual messaging threads. On Messenger, group chats have all the functionality of regular chats, plus some additional features tailored to managing conversations between multiple participants.
Creating a Group Chat
It’s easy to set up a group chat on Messenger. There are a couple different ways to do it:
Method 1:
1. Open an existing chat window with one of the people you want to include in the group.
2. Tap on the participant’s name at the top of the chat window.
3. Tap “Add Participants” from the menu that appears.
4. Select the names of the people you want to add to the group. You can search for people or browse recent conversations.
5. Tap “Done” once you’ve selected everyone to add them to the chat.
Method 2:
1. Tap on the write message icon in the upper right corner of Messenger.
2. Tap “New Group” at the bottom of the menu.
3. Select the participants you want to include in the group the same way as the first method.
4. Tap “Next” once you’ve picked your group members.
5. Give the group a name and tap “Create” to make the group official.
And that’s it! The new group chat will open and all participants will get a notification that they’ve been added. You can start messaging the group right away.
Group Chat Features
Messenger group chats include the following features:
Media Sharing
You can share photos, videos, GIFs, stickers, audio clips and other media with the entire group chat just like in a regular 1-on-1 Messenger conversation.
Reactions
Tap on a message to open the reactions menu and react to any message in the chat with an emoji to express how you feel about what someone said. Reactions appear below the message for all to see.
Mentions
Tag someone in the group with @ before their name and they’ll get a notification that you mentioned them even if they have notifications silenced. This is handy for getting someone’s attention or directing a question at them.
Group Names
You can choose a name for new group chats when creating them or change the name later by tapping on the current name at the top of the chat window. Names help identify different group conversations.
Add/Remove People
It’s easy to add or remove participants from existing group chats. Just tap the group name, manage participants, and use the add and remove buttons. Everyone in the chat will see when people join or leave the conversation.
Leave Group
If you no longer want to be part of a group chat, open the participant menu, select your name, and choose “Leave Group”. The rest of the chat will be notified you left.
Notifications
You have granular control over notifications for each group chat. Open the chat, tap your name and choose notification settings to mute, turn off alerts, customize sounds, and more.
Search
Need to find an old message or photo? Tap the search button at the top of the group chat to search through the entire history of the conversation.
Social Integration
Messenger group chats work seamlessly across iOS and Android devices. You can access existing chats from any phone or tablet with the app installed. Chats also integrate with Facebook groups and events.
Group Chat Use Cases
Here are some common ways people use Messenger group chats:
Friends & Family
Stay connected with close friends or relatives by starting a group to share everyday moments, make plans, send updates, jokes, etc.
School Projects
Easily collaborate with classmates on group projects using Messenger. Set up a group to discuss assignments, share files, and coordinate meetups.
Work Teams
Coworkers can create work groups to chat about projects, brainstorm ideas, share feedback, and make decisions as a team.
Clubs & Activities
If you’re part of a club, gaming group, sports team, or volunteer group, create a Messenger chat to organize events and build community.
Shared Interests
Find people who share a common interest like a TV show or hobby and start a group to discuss and engage with your passion.
Event Planning
Planning a birthday party, wedding, reunion or other event? Set up a group to handle all the details from start to finish.
Neighborhood Groups
Foster a sense of community in your neighborhood by creating a group for sharing local news and recommendations.
Group Chat Tips
Here are some tips to have successful, productive group chats on Messenger:
Give it a clear name
When creating the group, give it a short but descriptive name so people know what it’s about at a glance.
Don’t overshare
Be mindful of who you’re including in the chat. Don’t share anything too personal or that you wouldn’t want the whole group seeing.
Respect others
Follow basic etiquette and be kind to others in the group chat even if you disagree on something.
Stay on topic
Keep the conversation focused on the group purpose and gently steer it back on track if it goes off on tangents.
Know your audience
Consider who is in the group chat and tailor your messages and tone accordingly. More informal with friends vs. professional for work.
Limit notifications
Mute the chat if necessary to avoid constant notifications. Respect people’s time and attention.
Don’t overmessage
Too many rapid-fire messages can overwhelm people. Allow time for responses and conversations to unfold naturally.
Let people leave
Don’t take it personally if someone wants to remove themselves from the chat. People’s needs change.
Delegate roles
In larger chats, designate specific members to steer conversation, share key info, moderate disputes, etc.
Group Chat Alternatives
While Messenger provides an easy built-in group chat option, there are some alternative platforms you may want to consider as well:
Very popular internationally. Offers secure messaging, voice and video calling. Useful for communicating with friends abroad.
Signal
Provides state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption of messages and calls. Ideal for privacy.
Telegram
Fast messaging app with huge international user base. Supports large group chats up to 200,000 members.
Slack
Leading professional team collaboration platform. Robust features including bots, threads and search.
Discord
Gamer-centric chat app optimized for text, voice and streaming. Organized into topic-based servers.
GroupMe
Owned by Microsoft. Integrates with Office 365. Useful for school clubs and extracurricular teams.
Google Hangouts
Good option for group video chat. Ties into G Suite productivity tools.
Conclusion
In summary, Messenger provides full support for multi-person group conversations via group chats. Group chats allow for seamless media sharing, reactions, mentions, participant management and more between up to 250 people.
Common uses cases include coordinating with friends, collaborating on school or work projects, planning events, and connecting over shared interests or communities. While Messenger offers a convenient built-in option, there are also a number of alternative chat platforms to consider depending on specific needs.
When using Messenger groups, following best practices around thoughtful naming, respectful communication, staying on-topic and limiting notifications can help ensure a positive chat experience for all participants. Overall, group chats are a versatile communication tool for a variety of personal and professional situations.