Facebook trials ‘High School Networks’ for Messenger – what could go wrong there?

Facebook is working on a new feature to hook in the one market that they’ve struggled to dominate: teenagers. ‘High School Networks for Messenger’ appears to be its latest attempt to drag post-millennials to its platform, according to sources who shared screenshots with TNW.

High School Networks appears to be a way for students to connect with their peers at the same school and/or taking the same classes. The details for the feature are limited at the moment, as the feature appears to be hidden and is yet to go live in the latest version of Messenger in the App Store.

One of our sources decompiled the latest version of the Messenger app on iOS, leading to the discovery of this feature. The source wishes to remain anonymous for fears of Facebook limiting their access.

   



Separately, computer scientist student Jane Wong was able to locate additional information from within Messenger to show text strings related to the feature.

Wong found a list of pre-defined text strings inside the feature which would be displayed to Messenger users who have the feature enabled and are currently students at an enrolled high school. This gives us some clues as to what High School Networks may enable students to do.

These text strings suggest features such as:

  • Search for your school to join the Messenger network
  • Search for classmates you might know and be able to message them
  • Subscribe or join to specific chat networks for classes a student takes at the school
  • Ability to list details of grades for course or exams taken
  • Ability to invite other classmates who are yet to join the High School Network
  • A verification process for new members attempting to join the network
  • Ability to add/delete school(s) you currently attend
  • Suggestions for schools Facebook’s Messenger thinks you may attend
  • Ability to request school is added to the High School Network feature
  • Possible sending school reports feature between teachers and students



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