Facebook launched a new feature for Facebook Messenger at the beginning of June announced, which is intended to provide more security and data protection on iOS – it is now officially available.
The new App Lock feature allows users to protect Facebook Messenger from prying eyes. This means that in order to open the application, the user must be authenticated using Face ID or Touch ID. Facebook has commented on the feature as follows expressed:
App Lock lets you add another layer of security to your private messages and prevent anyone else from accessing them. This optional feature gives you peace of mind knowing that a friend or family member who needs to borrow your phone won't be able to access your chats.
The feature uses your device's privacy settings, such as fingerprint or face authentication, to unlock the Messenger app, and your touch or face ID is not transmitted to or stored by Facebook. The feature is available on iPhone and iPad starting today, and will roll out to Android in the next few months.
Facebook Messenger: How to activate App Lock
The company hopes that this will make users feel more comfortable lending their iPhone to someone else. The social media giant also stressed that the user's fingerprint or facial data "is not transferred to or stored by Facebook." This data remains stored locally. To activate the "App Lock," users must open the profile in the top left of Facebook Messenger, select the "Privacy" section, and then tap the "App Lock" menu item. The feature can now be activated or deactivated. While the function is available to iPhone and iPad users worldwide from today, Android users will have to wait a few more months - according to Facebook.
