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WHEN FACEBOOK MADE its Messenger app mandatory a few weeks ago, many users were annoyed with the move, but it turned out to be incredibly effective.
More than 500 million Android users have downloaded the app since it was first released. The milestone, first spotted by The Guardian, places it with a select group of apps including Gmail, YouTube and Facebook’s main app.
Facebook began directing users to its messenger app at the end of July, much to people’s annoyance. At this point, installs were estimated to range between 100 million to 500 million.
The caveat behind this development is in theory, the number of Android downloads could have already been close to 500 million before Facebook started pushing Messenger, but at the last earnings call in July, the site had 300 million monthly active users across all platforms (although active users and downloads aren’t the same thing so there’s also that to take into consideration).
To add to the problems, the company was criticised for the number of permissions that it requested of users when downloading. While the majority of them were standard procedure, and the phrasing was from Google and not Facebook, many users treated it as invasive and creating privacy fears.
As a result, the company posted an FAQ detailing why it asks for certain permissions and what they mean to the user.
While the Android version has an overall score of four stars out of five, the latest version has seen a barrage of one-star reviews since it was released. Similarly, the iOS version has an average score of one star out of five, while responses to the Windows Phone version has been mixed at best.
Is there statistics on how many people deleted it after downloading?
Delete your Facebook. You will thank yourself for it, trust me!
Forced to download messenger, fećk’em, just deleted the FB application instead
Or just hide the people and stuff that annoys you. And fill your feed with stuff that interest you
I did and I am :)
@chief I don’t have a problem with the people on FB but FB itself, if I could meet up with all the people instead it would be much better
Definitely.. Couldn’t agree with you more.. So many other ways of staying in touch these days without everyone knowing your business.. Can easily say I will never go back on Facebook.
Ya, just write some letters and post them.. its cooler and more fun..
It was effective because users did not have a choice. It was not a brilliantly successful marketing ploy
I downloaded when I basically had to, hated it and then erased. I just access fb messages through Web browser on my phone.
There’s a pretty cool workaround that reinstates the messaging facility from within the FB app itself (on IOS).
Delete FB Messenger app
Select the”Messages” icon on bottom if regular FB app.
You will be redirected to App Store – click to install Messenger app
But as soon as install begins, cancel it.
Go back to FB app and voila, the “Messages” facility will work as before from within the FB app.
I deleted the messenger app, them deleted my Facebook app, re installed Facebook and I’m back to using normal message service!
Thanks for that tip :-)
Have you read the Terms before you download it? It has access to pretty much everything on your phone! SMS, Phone Calls, Can record audio without permission, etc. Thanks, but no thanks!
No they don’t. I compared the permissions on my apps after reading about it, none of the apps on my phone require those permissions. I don’t know what other people are downloading though!
Let’s just say hypothetically that those permissions weren’t there. In a typical scenario you want to take a picture (in the app) and send it to a friend, without the pre-configured/installed permissions you would be asked *every* single time you take a picture: “Facebook messenger would like to use your camera, click OK to allow it this time”.
That’s what those permissions are for, in the hypothetical scenario clicking OK every single time will get frustrating pretty quickly.
For those ‘red thumbs’, would you care to elaborate what you don’t agree with?
Your shirt. Who wears florescent green!?
There’s internet on computers now?
Well it might be good or harmless, but I am in principle against things that you have to do or else ….
I don’t have Facebook because I don’t have any friends :(
I’m outraged.
I don’t why but I’m absolutely outraged.
It’s outrageous that you are outraged and I am outraged by the level of your outrageousness.
I didn’t download it, not because of the permissions issue but because I don’t want another app. There is enough messenger apps (viber,whatsapp etc) I’ve a phone, if you want me then call or text me.
And who owns WhatsApp Dave?
I don’t use it. I was using it as an example
Can’t you just use your pc to view messages without downloading messenger on pc?
PCs are a bit hard to carry around.
Everyone i know has deleted it! Why can’t they leave things alone!!!
Have been using it for well over a year now. It’s so good that I rarely use Whatsapp as a result. I really hate the chat bubbles, so that’s probably part of the reason.
To download press any key. Where’s the any key ?
I deleted Facebook about three years ago. Best decision I’ve ever made
I deleted Facebook instead!
Oh some of you deleted Facebook instead, well aren’t you’s too cool for school
Overreaction on this one was hilarious… Usual scaremongering. If people actually looked into the permissions and what they were used for, then there’d be no problem.
Uninstalled it.
Thanks – but no thanks.
How do I delete my Facebook,
You have to request it by email
An awful lot of misplaced hysteria on this one. Read the terms and conditions of any advanced Android messaging app (e.g. Skype or Viber).
Didn’t read all the comments so apologies if I’m replicating one but to send a message just log into Facebook through Google on your phone. No need to download messenger
Not going to to download the messaging app. If the message is so urgent that people can’t wait til I can access Facebook on my laptop or computer then they should be calling or texting, not Facebook IMing me
one positive thing about the Facebook messenger app I don’t have them stupid circles popping up when someone sends me a message anymore they where a serious irritation.
Just use Facebook through your phone/tablet browser, that way they cant force you to download it.
have your say