Facebook has come to the aid of those who struggle to come up with topics to discuss in Messenger. The company is testing a new Messenger feature called "Conversation Topics" which gives users topic suggestions.
Chris Messina, a Developer Experience Lead from Uber first noticed the "conversation topics" feature on the Messenger app. He took to Twitter with a screenshot to show how the feature worked.
Messina noticed that an entire section in the messenger app was dedicated to the “conversation topics.” In the friend list section, the user’s recent activity is listed underneath, which also includes the last time they were seen online.
Facebook uses information that users already share to suggest what things to discuss. It could range from activities, music, platforms a user has checked into or places that a user plans to visit – basically all the information that is available on a user’s timeline.
While Facebook is creating more updates to optimize and increase the Messenger app usage, critics have questioned the security of the platform. The new feature likely suggests that Facebook is keeping tabs on all user activities – and now people who are connected with each other can use that information as well.
There is danger for users who like to add random strangers to their friend list. Since their activities are readily available, stalking would be easier to do on Facebook. It may also be considered intrusive, and may pose a big concern for users who value their privacy.
Facebook said that “conversation topics” is still undergoing tests. This is why only a limited number of users can notice the feature.