« We know that every message is unique and personal to you and the person you’re chatting with — so today, we’re excited to launch Instant Video, letting you to put a smile on the faces of those people who matter most in your life. »

In order to start a video chat, simply tap the video icon in the top-right corner of any conversation windows to start sharing video in real-time.

Facebook disables audio by default when a new conversation starts in order to minimise the chance of accidental embarrassment, but this can be turned back on easily.

The video then appears over the top of your chat, meaning you can continue to type alongside sharing video.

Users will need to ensure they are updated to the latest version of Messenger on their iOS or Android device to use the service.