Facebook Secret Message uses encryption to ensure your messages stay private

Just take a moment to think of all the silly, sexy and potentially career-ending private messages you've sent on Facebook.

Now imagine someone got their heads on these messages and leaked them to your friends, family or employer.

Not a pretty thought, is it?

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Luckily, Facebook wants to make your life easier by making sure no-one can get their hands on your private communications, as long as you don't do anything silly like giving them your password.

The social network has just introduced a new "secret messages" function which keeps messages secure using hardcore encryption, which makes sure the contents can only be read by you and the person you've written to.

Messages will also self-destruct like Snapchat sexts, further reducing the change of any baddies getting their mitts on your secrets.

The social network told Wired that the feature has now been rolled out to all its 900 million users.

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“We wanted to make Messenger your primary messaging platform, and while we currently were already using a lot of security to ensure that your messages are safe and confidential, we felt that we needed to go one more extra step with this new mode,” Facebook’s vice president of messaging products .

All you'll need to do is opt to begin a secret conversation, although there will be limits on how many devices you can use to read the encrypted missives.

On its blog, Facebook wrote: "Starting a secret conversation with someone is optional.

"That’s because many people want Messenger to work when you switch between devices, such as a tablet, desktop computer, or phone."

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"Secret conversations can only be read on one device and we recognise that experience may not be right for everyone.

"It’s also important to note that in secret conversations we don’t currently support rich content like GIFs and videos, making payments, or other popular Messenger features."