Facebook hasn't exactly been favored on the mobile front as of late. With the news of social media mogul removing the Messenger function of its main mobile app, thereby forcing users to download the standalone Messenger app for said functionality, it's clear that the general public has not been as warmly receptive as Facebook might have anticipated. To Facebook users, it makes no sense to remove a feature that's practically a given, only for it to be broken up into a smaller piece to be acquired separately, not unlike AA batteries for a remote control.
Not only do I see where these individuals are coming from but I am inclined to agree with them. As someone who frequently utilizes the main Facebook app on his iPhone, I am not looking forward to the day when the app tells me that I absolutely must download Messenger. Why should the full experience be broken up in such a way?
If there's nothing else that can be attained from Facebook's Messenger endeavor, these 3 takeaways should be made note of.
No one likes clutter
It can be argued that apps can be placed in different sections of smartphones, depending on what they are designed to do. For example, if I wanted to create a "folder" specifically for shopping, I'd be able to drop the Amazon and eBay icons into it without much trouble. Even still, the idea of downloading Messenger adds to the amount of clutter across various smartphone screens. Apps, regardless of the companies behind them, are designed with ease of use in mind. Facebook's main app, as it stands, is fine for the most part. Important functions are included and they don't require the user to jump around in order to utilize them. The idea of adding another app to the smartphone means that things may look a little less organized across mobile devices.
Social media is powerful
This is an obvious statement, as any Long Island SEO company can attest to, but it rings true here. An article on news.com.au detailed the various Twitter posts made in response to Facebook's instant messaging function becoming its own app with less-than-favorable viewpoints. A good amount of criticism hasn't so much been rooted in this separation but rather the terms & conditions which Facebook users must agree to in order to use Messenger. The idea that this app requires information regarding friends and locations is worrisome to many and understandably so. When news circulates through social media, everyone hears about it and there platforms to sound off on. Even if Facebook doesn't address these concerns with revisions, the fact that individuals are able to offer commentary on prominent platforms speaks volumes.
Change cannot be forced on others
To some degree, I can liken this situation to the initial Xbox One reveal last year. Between DRM and always-online requirements, even the most stouthearted of Microsoft fans looked at Microsoft's latest video game console with skepticism at best and outrage at worst. Ultimately, Microsoft did away with these requirements, which was the right move overall. This, along with Facebook separating Messenger into its own app, goes to show that change cannot be forced upon an audience. People must slowly but surely be brought into that particular fold. Companies have to give their audiences time to adjust, with smaller changes made over the course of time. The fact that Facebook has seemingly forced this change on users is concerning and I wonder what will happen once the change in question is underway for all regions.
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