Facebook’s new Rooms app allows users to be anyone they wish to be

Facebook has released an application that lets people create virtual "rooms" to chat about whatever they wish using any name they would like.

"Rooms" software introduced in the United States and Britain for iPhone made its debut as Facebook tries to make peace with people unhappy that real identities are essential for profiles at the world's leading social network.

"One of the things our team loves most about the internet is its potential to let us be whoever we want to be," said a blog post from Facebook's Creative Labs.

"That's why in Rooms you can be 'Wonder Woman', or whatever name makes you feel most comfortable and proud."

Virtual rooms become home to feeds of pictures, videos, and text.

The application puts a smartphone spin on chat forums that were popular venues for online conversations in early internet days.