Facebook has started prompting its mobile web app users to opt in for its messenger app unless they don’t want their online conversations to face interruption.
“Your conversations are moving to Messenger,” the notice reads.
The move is being seen as a tacit ploy on the part of the social media company to push for greater uptake of its Messenger app. Interestingly, this thing is only affecting Android users as of now since iOS users haven’t reported coming across any such notice. That being said, it should be a matter of time before the switchover announcement makes it to iOS as well. However, the company could be gauging user’s response and might before messing with iOS users.
Meanwhile, Nick Mediati of PC World mentioned clicking on the Messenger icon in Facebook’s mobile app too popped up a message asking him to install the Messenger app instead. The message though wasn’t binding as the chat service was still available. However, what seems evident is that Facebook ultimately will like to see its standalone Messenger app serving as a single point solution for all chatting requirements, while stripping all (or almost all) mention of Messenger from Facebook, either the app or its website.
See Also: Facebook introduces new diverse emoji to its Messenger platform
TechCrunch said Facebook justified the move claiming its being done to offer the “best experience” possible to users while they chat with their friends or others. However, what is all too evident is that this has more to do with Facebook’s aim of monetizing the platform, and perhaps it was easier to do so when it served as a standalone app rather than one that has multiple entry points.
That being said, it might still run into a few hurdles users have often resented from installing the Facebook app on their devices – a move that saves both battery and storage space. However, such users instead opted using the mobile version of the website.
What remains to be seen is how the people at large react to Facebook’s latest stance with Messenger.
