Facebook had earlier gone on a major change of tactics that forced most of its users to switch to Facebook Messenger but now it has decided to introduce features that would probably ensure that messenger users find it the most secure messaging platform imaginable. Users demand security and privacy when they chat with their friends and relatives, which is why Facebook has now introduced end to end encryption and the possibility of destructing messages that users do not want to exist online. It seems it is a move to make sure that the users that Facebook has gained continue to use the platform instead of other platforms.
A report on TechNewsToday explained the ramifications of the new measures, "While its messenger and all of its conversations already use secure communication channels, the ones used by banks and e-commerce websites, this upgrade will take it to an all new level. The new end-to end encryption is supposed to be applicable on one-on-one conversations. Messages sent this way can only be viewed by two people - the sender and the intended recipient. They are coded, or encrypted, when being sent and can be decrypted only by the user you select while sending the message. Any third-party who might have gained access to the data packets cannot decrypt the message to read the content, not even Facebook itself."
As regards message destruction, the reports added, "Facebook has also coupled an option that will cause the message to self-destruct after a certain length of time. You have an option to select a time period during which the message will be readable, and after which it will vanish - another feature, we feel that might actually be useful when discussing sensitive topics in confidence with a friend or business associate. Both the encryption and the self-destructing messages are for now limited to text only. For rich content such as videos and GIFs, you will have to switch to regular conversation. It's a big deal though; the conversation is still secure, just not encrypted from end to end."
