Facebook Messenger is to begin offering group video calls to users, the social network has announced.
The company said the feature has been their “most requested ever” and will enable up to six people at once to chat with one another via video.
The new feature will begin rolling out to Android and iOS mobile device users from today.
Messenger product manager Stephane Taine said: “This is the time of year to tell our friends and family how much we care about them and send best wishes for the year ahead.
“We’re delighted to bring you the ability to chat face-to-face with those who matter to you most, wherever they are.”
Group video chat will also support up to 50 people at a time who are using voice calling, Facebook said, while users will also be able to send text, stickers, emoji and GIFs to the rest of a group.
A new video chat icon will now appear in conversations within the app, and any group member can start a video chat, with others joining when they wish.
The announcement is the latest in a series of recent changes to the app, which Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg is keen to turn into a platform of its own, independent of Facebook and capable of more than just messaging.
It has begun using artificial intelligence to enable businesses to speak to customers more directly, while also introducing new gaming features that enable users to compete against each other at classic arcade games.