Facebook's Instant Articles are now on Messenger

Facebook is expanding its Instant Articles format.

The feature, previously limited to the main Facebook app, is now compatible with the Android version of Messenger and will be on iOS soon. 

Unlike typical links that load in an in-app browser, Instant Articles load within the Facebook (and now Messenger) app instantly and don't direct users to the publisher's website. The social network began experimenting with the feature last year with a limited number of media partners and has slowly expanded it since. 

But the addition of Messenger marks the first time the company has expanded the articles beyond the main Facebook app. 

Just like Instant Articles elsewhere on Facebook, those on Messenger will include a lightning bolt in the preview to indicate that they will load as an Instant Article. 

The feature is available now to Android users, and Facebook's head of Messenger David Marcus said in a Facebook post that it will be available on iOS "in a couple of weeks.