Facebook Inc. introduced one-on-one video calls for its messaging app in April 2015, following up a year later with group video calls. Now, with 245 million people making video calls in its app every month, Facebook Messenger Monday launched Group Video Chat.

The new group video call feature in Facebook Messenger will allow up to six participants to appear in a split-screen view, with the ability for up to 50 participants to join a group video call. Starting Monday, Group Video Chat is rolling out worldwide to Android and iOS devices and the desktop version of Messenger. Group Video Chat participants will also be able to use the Snapchat-like 3D masks and effects, which Facebook Messenger launched last week.

Here’s a look at how to use Group Video Chat in Facebook Messenger, as well as the other chat apps who are rolling out group video calling:

How to use Group Video Chat on Facebook Messenger

With the new Group Video Chat from Facebook Messenger, you will be able to see up to six people at a time. However, up to 50 participants can join a Group Video Chat, the only difference during the video call is that only the dominant speaker is shown to all participants.

• Download and install the latest Facebook Messenger app for iOS from the App Store or the Android app from the Play Store.  
• Open an existing Facebook Messenger group chat or start a new one.
• In the upper-right corner of the screen tap the video icon.
• All group participants will be notified about the Group Video Chat and can join with a single tap of the button. You can also directly video call with only some of the group participants and can easily add extra participants during the video call.

Add a 3D mask during your Group Video Chat

Last week, Facebook Messenger introduced 3D masks and special effects that you can add to photos and videos. With the new Group Video Chat in Facebook Messenger, you will be able to add these same 3D masks and effects. At this stage, the ability to add 3D masks during your video call is only available for iOS users, but will launch for Android users soon.

To add a 3D mask or special effect, tap the shutter button at the bottom of the screen (a tap takes photo, a long press records a video) > tap the smiley face icon > select from the various masks and special effects.

Various chat apps rolling out group video call

The last few weeks, in particular, has seen a variety of chat apps, including Facebook-owned WhatsApp, Line Corp., Slack Technologies Inc. and Kik Interactive Inc. launch video calling features.

Last month, WhatsApp rolled out video calling to its more than one billion users across Android, iPhone and Windows Phone devices.  

Slack announced last week new one-on-one and group video calls for its enterprise messaging app. To make group video calls with up to 15 attendees you will need to be on one of Slack’s paid plans.

Last week also saw mobile messaging giant Line add video calling for its more than 220 million users. Line’s group video call feature allows you to video call with up to 200 people, but given a phone’s limited screen size only four faces will display at any given time.

Kik, a chat app popular with teenagers, also added group video calling today for its 300 million users. Kik’s group video call feature differs from other competitors in that the video remains the size of a profile icon, allowing items like GIFs, stickers, photos and text messages to be sent during the call.

Images courtesy of Facebook