The social networking giant has begun testing a new feature that makes your Facebook Messenger act little like Snapchat. Facebook is in the process of experimenting a disappearing message option within its Messenger app in France, giving users the option to have their messages self-destruct lasting for an hour after sending them. This feature is more likely to the Snapchat feature that disappears images, videos and messages in the Snapchat app. Snapchat is the Company’s biggest messaging competitor and now Facebook seems to take a shot at its rival by bringing this new ephemeral messaging feature to its Facebook Messenger for the first time.

Facebook has made available this feature for the users in France on Thursday. The sender of the message can simply tap an hourglass icon on the top right of the screen in Messenger that allow them to send messages designed to disappear an hour after they are sent. Facebook is testing this feature on versions of the Messenger application for the smartphones which are powered by Apple or Android software. Once this feature becomes successful in France, then it would likely be rolled out in other countries.

“We’re conducting a small test in France of a feature that allows people to send messages that disappear an hour after they’re sent,” Facebook told AFP. “Disappearing messages gives people another fun option to choose from when they communicate on Messenger.”

Facebook Working on ‘Ephemeral Messages’ for Messenger

Facebook is ramping up a challenge to Snapchat by making ephemeral messages an option in Messenger. Facebook is currently testing this new vanishing messages feature for Messenger on Android and Apple devices. Snapchat’s application has been the assumption that messages vanish shortly after being viewed, rendering users a possibility of making pictures or videos private and ephemeral.

The feature can be turned on or off just by clicking the hourglass icon in any message thread. You can turn on or off this feature at any time so you won’t be stuck with disappearing messages if you don’t want to be. Snapchat was initially released in September 2011 in the US and acquired much popularity with its Los Angeles-based Snapchat. Especially, Teenagers preferred this Snapchat messaging app.

Snapchat Rejected Takeover Offer from Facebook

As Snapchat acquired a huge popularity among the users, Facebook tried to take over it and offered $3 billion to Snapchat. However, Snapchat rejected the offer from Facebook in 2013. Facebook has begun testing a Messenger app virtual assistant earlier this year. The giant social networking site seems to go beyond artificial intelligence programs which are currently leading the market. It has initiated experimenting a personal digital assistant namely ‘M’ within its Messenger service. This assistant will assist users by answering queries with live human help.

The new feature which Facebook is testing on Vanishing Messages is limited to France currently. Facebook says it may roll it out further to other regions in the future. Yet, the company has not revealed whether the feature comes to India or not.