This attempt to jazz up your conversations applies to text, too. If you tap the palette icon near the shutter, you can add art and stickers to your written words.

Both Android and iOS users should see the features arrive in Messenger today, although holiday-themed effects will have to wait until December 21st.

The additions are clearly meant as hedges against Snapchat's colorful, goofy conversations, although that doesn't appear to be the only goal. To some extent, this is a response to Apple Messages, Google Allo and other relatively straightforward chat apps introducing some fun-oriented features. Facebook Messenger isn't strictly boring, but it's easy to imagine chatters drifting toward the competition if they find conversations more exciting in those rival apps.