Instagram and Facebook Messenger Chats to Disconnect This Month - MacRumors
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Instagram and Facebook Messenger Chats to Disconnect This Month

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Meta has revealed plans to end Instagram users' ability to chat with Facebook accounts later this month, rolling back a feature that it introduced over three years ago.

instagram messenger
In September 2020, Meta (then Facebook) announced it was merging its Facebook Messenger service with Instagram direct messaging, allowing Instagram users to chat with Facebook users and vice versa using the same platform.

The move was supposed to be part of a long-term plan to merge Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp chat platforms into one underlying messaging infrastructure. The idea behind the plan was said to be to keep people within the Facebook ecosystem, and off of rival texting apps like Apple's iMessage.

However, according to an updated Instagram support page, beginning in mid-December the following cross-app communication features will no longer be available to Instagram users:

  • You won't be able to start new conversations or calls with Facebook accounts from Instagram.
  • Any existing chats on Instagram that you've had with Facebook accounts will become read-only, even if these Facebook accounts are removed from the chat. This means that you and others with Instagram accounts can't send new messages in these chats.
  • Facebook accounts won't be able to view your Activity Status or whether you've seen a message.
  • Any existing chats you've had with Facebook accounts won't move to your inbox on Facebook or Messenger.

When cross-app chat ends, Instagram users will need to start a new chat on Messenger or Facebook from their Facebook account to continue conversations with Facebook accounts.

Meta offered no reason for the change, but 9to5Google speculates that it could be part of a larger effort to comply with Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The theory is that Meta could be preparing to introduce wider interoperability between Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, which would fulfill a key requirement of the DMA. Either that or it is simply scaling back Messenger once again – the company recently removed SMS/MMS support on Android and has shut down Messenger Lite.

Tags: Facebook Messenger, Instagram

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Top Rated Comments

Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
Apple Knowledge Navigator
32 months ago
Whoever thought this was a good idea in the first place needs a slap. Preferably with a fine leather glove.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wanha Avatar
wanha
32 months ago
The most obvious reasons I can think of for this moves are:

1. Reduces complexity of the products and makes development of each easier
2. Forces users to install both Instagram and Messenger to continue chatting with all their friends

My money is on reason 2
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H
Hildy
32 months ago
Seems like more great reasons to just avoid all of meta’s products.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Will Co Avatar
Will Co
32 months ago

The most obvious reasons I can think of for this moves are:

1. Reduces complexity of the products and makes development of each easier
2. Forces users to install both Instagram and Messenger to continue chatting with all their friends

My money is on reason 2
I see the problem here. You've tried to use "reason". That implies that whoever is making the calls at Meta is capable of it. Not so sure...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
W
wabisabizo
32 months ago
No one ever asked for this merger, at least I didn't 🤷🏻‍♂️
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wanha Avatar
wanha
32 months ago

I see the problem here. You've tried to use "reason". That implies that whoever is making the calls at Meta is capable of it. Not so sure...
Having worked at big tech companies, I feel confident to assert that there is always a reason.

Now, whether that reason is valid or well thought-out is debatable, but it's safe to say there is always some agenda at play
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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