Editing Instant messaging (section)

=== Features ===
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2024}}
[[File:Pidgin screenshot.png|thumb|upright|A [[buddy list]] on [[Pidgin (software)|Pidgin]]]]

====Private and group messaging====
Private chat allows users to converse privately with another person or a group. Privacy can also be enhanced in several ways, such as [[end-to-end encryption]] by default. [[Chatroom|Public and group chat]] features allow users to communicate with multiple people simultaneously.

====Calling====
Many major IM services and applications offer a call feature for user-to-user voice calls, conference calls, and voice messages. The call functionality is useful for professionals who utilize the application for work purposes and as a hands-free method. [[Videotelephony]] using a [[webcam]] is also possible by some.

====Games and entertainment====
Some IM applications include in-app games for entertainment. [[Yahoo! Messenger]], for example, introduced these where users could play a game and viewed by friends in real-time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.altaba.com/news-releases/news-release-details/yahoo-messenger-launches-imvironmentstm-next-generation-yahoo|title = Yahoo! Messenger Launches "Imvironments™" with Next Generation of Yahoo! Messenger Service &#124; Altaba Inc}}</ref> [[MSN Messenger]] featured a [[Games and applications for Windows Live Messenger|number of playable games]] within the interface. Facebook's [[Facebook Messenger|Messenger]] has had a built-in option to play games with people in a chat, including games like [[Tetris]] and [[Blackjack]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-30 |title=How to play ALL of Facebook Messenger's new games |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a788495/hidden-facebook-games-how-to-find-play-facebook-messengers-secret-games-basketball-chess/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Discord]] features multiple games built inside the "activities" tab in [[Voice chat in online gaming|voice channels]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Activities: Play Games and Watch Together |url=https://discord.com/blog/server-activities-games-voice-watch-together |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=discord.com}}</ref>

====Payments====
A relatively new feature to instant messaging, peer-to-peer payments are available for financial tasks on top of communication. The lack of a service fee also makes these advantageous to financial applications. IM services such as [[Facebook Messenger]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/help/750020781733477 |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> and the [[WeChat]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=vincithevin |date=2024-08-02 |title=Beijing Visitor's Guide: A Guide to Payment Services in the Capital |url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2024/08/02/welcome-beijing-guide-payment-services-capital |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.thebeijinger.com |language=EN}}</ref> '[[super-app]]' for example offer a payment feature.