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Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

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Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#251
post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your GPS location (if you have it turned on), your SMS messages, your call logs, your phone's storage, your camera, your mic... Just read the permissions: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.o... I've never had a Facebook app on any of my phones and I will never install one. Worth pointing out: Luckily, my phone came without Facebook apps preinstalled, so I had the choice of seeing what Faceboo…

But they have that data through their regular Facebook app (I wonder if that's next). Also I'm on iOS so I can deny access to Gps/location/camera/mic and there's no way to access my message history. Thanks for the reply though!

That's exactly why many don't run the official Facebook either. There are third party apps using the web-interface meant to sandbox Facebook so they can't gather all information. Up until now those web-interfaces have also been able to use the chat though. And you can still do that with some quick apps made to work around this block by facebook.

Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#252

It's really sad to me to see a bunch of intelligent people here being led like sheep by Facebook (no, this isn't a sheeple post, hear me out) Virtually everyone here complains "Facebook does XYZ really bad but I still use them because all my friends are there". I have a solution. Why don't you get all your friends off there? Pick a platform that you really like and start evangelising. The only reason why Facebook has…

This is exactly what I did, and I'm so happy I did. I'm now Facebook-free which is something I didn't think I could get (albeit I lost contact with a couple of people I rarely spoke with).

I'm using Telegram a lot lately (although it was more about other people bringing me in rather than me bringing them over) and I still wouldn't switch to WhatsApp now. The webapp requires your phone to be turned on and connected (as it acts as some sort of bridge or something?) unlike Telegram which "just works" once you give permission.

Plus I find the whole infrastructure to be much nicer for group chats (with nice things like bots that are quite useful).

Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#253
I had to uninstall the Facebook Android app and the Messenger app a while ago. After an update, just having the apps on my phone was causing it to keep stuttering. And if I actually opened the Facebook app my phone would completely lock up requiring a reboot.

Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#254
post #133

I am not a mobile app junkie, and I count the number of messaging apps on my mobile: imessage, whatsapp, kik. That's already 3, ie two too many. Then I would need to add facebook, telegram, google's latest thing, skype? I mean why not a different messaging app for each contact? Why does facebook thinks I need more messaging apps?

If it's not their messaging app you're using, they're not happy.

Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#255
post #11

So rather than fixing the problems that result in users messaging via the mobile web app instead of the messenger app, they're just going to "solve" the problem by forcing users to use the messenger app? This is why Facebook as a company doesn't have high levels of consumer trust. This will bite them in the future. Once you lose that level of trust it is extremely difficult to gain back.

And hopefully there will be more people who refuse to instal another messaging app.

Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#256
I hate how when I go to a website it forces me to open it in the app. If I Google a restaurant, and Yelp comes up, opens up in Yelp app....same with Amazon. Seems like you can long press a link to open it in the browser...but it's a very poor user experience.

When I am running low on space on my phone, those apps the the first to get deleted Facebook and Messengae first, of course!. Facebook caches their data and at one point it was at 700mb...with no way to clear the data except for deleting the app and reinstalling.

Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#257

It's really sad to me to see a bunch of intelligent people here being led like sheep by Facebook (no, this isn't a sheeple post, hear me out) Virtually everyone here complains "Facebook does XYZ really bad but I still use them because all my friends are there". I have a solution. Why don't you get all your friends off there? Pick a platform that you really like and start evangelising. The only reason why Facebook has…

> I have a solution. Why don't you get all your friends off there?

While I don't disagree with your goals, it's not just moving your friends and family off Facebook. It's also moving their friends and family off as well. And all the groups they are associated with, and the people they interact with.

Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#258

It's really sad to me to see a bunch of intelligent people here being led like sheep by Facebook (no, this isn't a sheeple post, hear me out) Virtually everyone here complains "Facebook does XYZ really bad but I still use them because all my friends are there". I have a solution. Why don't you get all your friends off there? Pick a platform that you really like and start evangelising. The only reason why Facebook has…

This is one reason I refuse to use Facebook's messaging app. There are plenty of ways to contact me on my phone. My friends know what they are. I don't see some Facebook messages, but that's just too bad.

Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#259
post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then why do you even have a facebook account?

I use Facebook (somewhat sparingly) but considered deleting my profile a few years ago, when I wasn't using it at all. I decided against because it was so useful as an "every once in a while" inbox for people who wouldn't have been able to reach me otherwise: a girl I met at a party, a cousin from Australia who happened to be in town for a couple of days, etc etc. The former would either never find me (depending on h…

Or you know, you guys could have emailed each other. Everyone still has email and you know what its the one thing on the internet that always works really well.

This is typical trope of the "why I have to be on FB." Download everyones contact and or sync to your address book. When people are in town they text you or email you. Trust me it works. People found each other just fine before FB and they can just find now.

Re: Facebook disabling messaging in its mobile web app to push people to Messenger

#260

It's really sad to me to see a bunch of intelligent people here being led like sheep by Facebook (no, this isn't a sheeple post, hear me out) Virtually everyone here complains "Facebook does XYZ really bad but I still use them because all my friends are there". I have a solution. Why don't you get all your friends off there? Pick a platform that you really like and start evangelising. The only reason why Facebook has…

Sounds like you're really cool.
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