Facebook chatroom app ‘Rooms’ now available to Canadian users

TORONTO – Facebook’s latest experiment in social networking is now available to Canadian users. But the app, which allows users to post anonymously using nicknames, stands in stark contrast to its real name policy.

The app – dubbed “Rooms” – allows users to create a chatroom that revolves around a topic or interest where they can share pictures, videos and multimedia posts to create a tailored Facebook feed. Users are able to choose if the room is accessible by invite-only, or if its “discoverable” to other users.

Since the app launched to U.S. users in October, Facebook said it has seen some very active Rooms – however, the social network said it does not have official numbers on how many people are using the app.

Josh Miller, product manager of Rooms, told Global News the main goal of the app is to create communities that people continue to interact with. “We will know the Room is successful when there are inside jokes,” he said.

But the app has already seen some success. According to Miller, one of the most active groups found on the app is an open community called “Depression Support,” in which users share their struggle with depression and mental health issues. The group has about 400 active members and has spawned a spin off group for struggling mothers, which is now also very active.

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However, the ability to post anonymously in Rooms seems to stand in stark contrast to the rest of Facebook. The company has long required its users to go by their “real names” on the site for security purposes, to stand out from other social networks and so it can better target advertising to people.

Facebook recently came under fire for deleting accounts belonging to drag queens that used drag names such as “Lil Hot Mess” rather than legal names like Bob Smith.

Since its real name policy stirred controversy within the transgendered community, Facebook said the spirit of its policy doesn’t mean a person’s legal name but “the authentic name they use in real life.”

READ MORE: Facebook tries to bring back the 90s with anonymous chatroom app ‘Rooms’

Miller told Global News that the decision to allow users to be anonymous in Rooms was not based on calls for more privacy on the social network.

“It had a lot less to do with Facebook and its policies were, but what the best policy was for this product,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It had a lot less to do with Facebook and its policies were, but what the best policy was for this product," he said.

Miller said some users may feel inclined to use their real name or initials in some groups – for example hobbies that relate to their profession – and stay anonymous in others, like the depression support group where users may be more privacy conscious.

Currently Rooms can only be shared through invitations that look like QR codes. But theoretically, invite codes could be posted anywhere online to invite new users to join. Additionally, the app does not require users to have a Facebook account, which means they could create “public” Rooms and invite anyone they wish.