Facebook Messenger is about to show you even MORE ads - unless you take this step
MESSENGER users could be about to see a lot more adverts when using the chat app following new launch from Facebook.
Facebook users could be about to face a new bombardment of ads on the site's Messenger app.
The social network giant is set to allow companies to target Messenger users with sponsored messages thanks to a new advertising platform.
Facebook Messenger currently has over a billion active users worldwide, a huge potential consumer base for companies and advertisers to target.
The new platform is the next step for Facebook's Messenger chatbots, which send automated messages to users.
Previously they could only be seen on a user's News Feed, but now will be appearing on Messenger threads too.
Companies that have already set up chat bots configured can start using the new sponsored messages feature immediately, meaning users could soon see the torrent of messages within the next few days.
However there is a way of avoiding the messages - and it all depends on how you've used Messenger in the past.
The bots will only be able to send out sponsored messages to users that have messaged them in the past requesting information.
Several companies have already been trying out the feature, which hopes to improve the number of customers who engage with them on Facebook - including Absolut vodka, which recently launched a Messenger bot to drive product samples.
Facebook chases new users in developing countries with Messenger Lite
The news comes shortly after Facebook launched an online exchange for its users to buy and sell goods on the site.
However its new Marketplace suffered an embarrassing start after users began offering illegal items for sale, swamping the site with numerous illegal goods.
Illegal weapons, drugs and even animals including baby hedgehogs were found on the site, forcing a clampdown from Facebook.
The news comes as Facebook also launches a stripped-back new version of its Messenger app, dubbed Messenger Lite, that will work on older Android smartphones with less memory and less powerful processors.
The slimmed-down Messenger Lite will also work in markets with slower than average internet speeds.