If Foursquare's attempt to force users into Swarm taught us anything, it's that people really don't like being forced into using apps.
Facebook, never one to heed the lessons of history, will soon be forcing its iOS and Android users over to Facebook Messenger, and many users aren't happy about it.
[seealso slug= "facebook-still-clinging/"]
Facebook sent an email to users Monday, alerting them that messages will soon be disappearing from Facebook's iPhone and Android app (for now, messages will remain available in the iPad and Windows Phone app, as well as on the mobile web and desktop.)
While Facebook has been suggesting users make the switch over to Messenger for some time, the social network stopped short of actually forcing users to do so. But over the next few days, users who have yet to download Messenger will see new reminders prompting them to get it. Eventually, messages will disappear entirely and users will only be able to check messages via the web or Messenger app (users of the main app will still get message notifications, however).
While Facebook Messenger has been available since 2011, many users who have still not downloaded the app are reluctant to do so and are not pleased about the new push to force them into the app.
I don't want to download Facebook messenger. People better send up a smoke signal or something.— Nicole Jackson (@co984life) July 29, 2014
After being nudged for years to download Facebook messenger, they're finally removing messaging from FB app. Oh snap, I deleted the FB app.— Nick ⁂ Code (@nickcoding) July 29, 2014
Facebook Messenger AKA we dont want this stupid app to die like Facebook Pokes all did so we're forcing you to use it eventually— §eνi (@Sevipervert) July 29, 2014
So now I am required to download the FaceBook Messenger App because they're taking messaging out of the regular app? That's super lame.— Mario M (@MarioMuscar) July 29, 2014
So my options are "download Facebook messenger" or "stop using Facebook for chat". Has facebook considered how popular option B will be?— Laurie Voss (@seldo) July 29, 2014
i hate that facebook has a different app for messenger so much— christine ✨ (@cvdaae) July 29, 2014
Facebook messenger is so dumb why do I have to download this— Allison Zito (@allizito) July 29, 2014
Ugh. Hate the splintering of apps. I don't want separate Swarm. Don't want a separate Facebook Messenger. Annoying.— Tammy Gordon (@tammy) July 29, 2014
somebody please tell facebook i don't want to get facebook messenger— fatima (@httpsfatima) July 29, 2014
Why is every app spinning features off into separate apps? Foursquare/Swarm. Facebook/Messenger. I don't want two apps to do one app's work!— Geoffrey Sorensen (@GSorensen) July 29, 2014
So why would Facebook be forcing users into an app that some people still don't want to use? The company says Messenger is "faster and more reliable" than chatting within the main Facebook app. Messenger also has more features, like voice and video calling. But the real reason may have more to do with Facebook's bottom line.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed during last week's earnings call that the company eventually wants to monetize Messenger and the app will eventually "overlap" with payments, though, as TechCrunch notes, he acknowledged the company still has a lot of work to do before users will see payments cropping up in the app.
Either way, those who are holding out on installing Messenger have a few more days to enjoy chatting in the main Facebook app, before it goes away for good.
In a statement given to Mashable, a Facebook spokesperson said the goal of separating the two apps is to improve the messaging experience for users and emphasized that, based on its user numbers, the app has already gained traction with them.
In the next few days, we're continuing to notify more people that if they want to send and receive Facebook messages, they'll need to download the Messenger app. As we've said, our goal is to focus development efforts on making Messenger the best mobile messaging experience possible and avoid the confusion of having separate Facebook mobile messaging experiences. Messenger is used by more than 200 million people every month, and we'll keep working to make it an even more engaging way to connect with people.