Photos
In game, group, and verified direct chats a photo lands in the thread immediately and sharpens as it uploads. First contact stays text-only.
Blocking
Blocking closes the conversation for both sides. Hit it by mistake, and you can undo. The message list no longer jumps away while you scroll; tapping the avatar opens the person, not the thread. Single emoji are larger.
App icon
The app icon badges unread messages — matching the bell in the app. Open the list, and the count drops to zero.