Friending is optional: you can now write messages in VK Messenger without adding friends

Users will be able to contact neighbors, classmates, and colleagues faster, and maintain privacy

The social network VKontakte has rolled out an update to VK Messenger that many have been waiting for. Now, to write to someone in it, you don't need to add that person as a friend or write them down in your phone book.

You only need to know the recipient's phone number.

The company notes that before the update, they improved anti-spam algorithms and introduced a number of new features in chats. For example, highlighting different backgrounds and designing unique stencils for video messages.

The update is available on Android and will soon be available on iOS.

The VKontakte neural network identifies suspicious accounts and prevents them from using the new phone number communication function.