Meta has announced the introduction of passkey — a modern alternative to passwords — to the Facebook mobile app. This will allow you to log in using Face ID, a fingerprint scanner, or a PIN, depending on the user's device. The company also plans to add the feature to the Messenger app.
Passkey provides increased security because it is not susceptible to phishing attacks. It is tied to a specific device and site, so it does not work on fake login pages. Even if a user opens a fake site, the browser will not prompt for a passkey, making unauthorized access impossible.
Passkey support has already been implemented by Google, Apple, Microsoft, WhatsApp, and password managers like 1Password and Dashlane. Apple and Google sync passkeys across devices via iCloud Keychain and Google Password Manager, allowing you to maintain access even if you lose or replace your smartphone.
Meta doesn't give an exact launch date, but says the passkey update will be coming to Android and iOS "soon." Once passkey is enabled, users will still be able to choose other login methods, including a traditional password, a physical security key, or two-factor authentication.