Facebook Messenger is incredibly popular but is surpassed by WhatsApp in terms of monthly active users, according to Statista.
The outlet insisted as of October last year, Facebook Messenger had 1.3billion monthly active users compared to the 1.5billion from WhatsApp.
But it appears Facebook is determined to increase the popularity of its Messenger service by adding a new feature that is already present on WhatsApp.
Today the social media giant has announced it is adding the ability to delete messages in Messenger.
The firm has insisted users will be able to remove messages within ten minutes of sending them.
Discussing the decision, Facebook said: “As of today, Facebook users across the world have more control over their conversations and are able to delete messages within a limited amount of time.
“Think of all the awkward tumbleweed situations you can now avoid! Sent your best mate a premature birthday wish? Not a problem.
“Accidentally pinged that embarrassing video to the family group, not your uni pals? Don’t fear. Regret pouring your heart to ‘the one that got away’? No issue.”
Facebook emphasised although users have the ability to remove messages, recipients still have the power to report messages “for a limited time” to ensure a proper investigation is conducted.
The social media behemoth continued: “Messenger’s time limit to remove a message is designed to provide users with more control and flexibility over their messages while also ensuring we prevent abuse of the feature (such as sending and removing harmful messages).
“Messenger users typically delete messages for themselves within a minute of sending it, so Messenger’s time limit of ten minutes should give people ample time to remove their message.
“If a user does receive a harmful message and the sender removes that message, the recipient can, for a limited time, still report the conversation to Facebook for investigation the same way they would with any Messenger conversation.”
The ability to delete messages is available from today and brings Messenger up to speed with WhatsApp that already touts the functionality.
Last month it was announced Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram would be “integrated” as part of a new initiative from the social media giant that owns all three clients.
Although it was stressed each piece of software would remain accessible in its own right, the decision was said to have prompted Facebook staff to “reconfigure” how the three work on a fundamental level.
The story, initially reported by The New York Times, claimed the initiative was in its “early stages”.
However, it was clarified Facebook plans to complete the change by either the end of this year or early 2020.