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Facebook Messenger testing Snapchat-style 'streaks' feature

Another day, another Facebook ripoff of a Snapchat feature.

Michelle Meyers
Michelle Meyers wrote and edited CNET News stories from 2005 to 2020 and is now a contributor to CNET.
Michelle Meyers

Ask teenagers how many "streaks" they have going, and they'll know exactly what you're referring to. That's how many people they've been Snapchatting back and forth with for consecutive days. 

It's actually addicting, they'll tell you. So much so, Facebook apparently wants in on the game.

Facebook confirmed to Mashable on Wednesday that it's testing out a feature similar to "streaks" in Messenger. As in Snapchat, it uses emoji and a counter to let you know how long your message streak has been going on.

"For example, a lightning bolt may appear next to the name of a person you've messaged with for at least three days in a row, and a counter will indicate how many consecutive days you've been chatting," a Facebook Messenger representative told Mashable and later CNET.

Twitter user @Case Sandberg was just one person to report seeing the feature:

This is just the latest example of Facebook copying Snapchat. Facebook-owned Instagram has lifted everything from Stories to face filters to even ephemeral posts.

First published Nov. 23 at 1:05 p.m. PT.
Update Nov. 24, 9:26 a.m. PT: Adds Facebook confirming the "streak" feature to CNET.

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