Facebook adds group video chat to Messenger; you can see up to six people at a time

New York: If you are not physically with your family this Christmas, Facebook Messenger`s latest group chat feature rolled out on Monday can mitigate the distance.

Adding the most-requested feature ever to the app, Facebook said the video chat feature will begin rolling out immediately to Android and iOS devices, and the desktop version of Messenger, worldwide.

"With 245 million people making video calls in Messenger every month, now we are bringing everyone on Messenger, the ability to turn group chats into face-to-face conversations no matter where you are," Facebook said in a blog post on Monday.

You can see up to six people at a time on Group Video Chat and up to 50 friends can join in and choose to just listen in and join through voice or be on camera.

This is how it works

• To get started, you’ll need the latest version of Facebook Messenger.
• All you have to do is jump into an existing group conversation, or create a new one.
• Tap on the video icon on the upper right of the screen to enter the video chat and everyone in the group will be notified. Each person can join when they are ready with just one tap.
• For an extra nudge, you can also directly ring just a few people or the whole group.