Facebook launches Rooms for chats

Los Angeles - Facebook has released its new app Rooms, which allow users to enter chat rooms using pseudonyms, the social media network said on Thursday.

The app does not require a Facebook account and lets users send text messages and share pictures and videos without using their actual names in chat rooms they created using a pseudonym.

This app does not let users chat anonymously like Secret or Whisper, but rather chat with people who have similar interests.

"Rooms lets you create places for the things you're into, and invite others who are into them, too," Facebook product manager Josh Miller said.

The chats are invite-only, and users can join a new room by using a circular QR code, which existing Room members pass along by posting it online or printing it as a photo offline.

New users then join the room by taking a photo or a screen shot of the code with their smartphone camera.

Apps promising anonymity to users have gained in popularity lately.