Facebook VP: Messenger App 'Too Cluttered' and Will Be 'Massively' Streamlined This Year

[Cougarcat]

Oh, goodness! So true. Why does it have to be there and take up real estate on my screen? Why give us the option to hide or display things or have a quick menu to get to lesser used features.

You can hide the bar by tapping on the App icon.

 

[drewyboy]

"'Massively' Streamlined This Year" into 4 different apps. Because that's how FB rolls right?

 

[eyeseeyou]

They should remove the advertisements for “fb” branding specifically for the messenger app.

I have several family members who only stay on fb to get family event notifications but would prefer to not be on fb at all.

It’s a lot easier to just log into messenger.

Honestly feel like the messenger is extremely close to iMessage And in some ways more advanced(group video chat and with filters if you’re into that).

Guess I’m in the minority’s and think messenger is one of the best messaging apps out.
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This is not even true. You don't even need a Facebook profile anymore to use Messenger.

This is true.

My teenager doesn’t have a fb account but has a fb messenger handle.

 

[Juiceboy]

Messenger is a great app. It's great not to have to use the slow, resource heavy fb app everytime someone wants to chat. It's also superior for video calling my friends on Android, or talking to my over seas friends.

Why everyone on mac rumors wants it back in the FB app is beyond me. Especially when the next lot of Fb related storeis everyone says how fb is horrible and they don't use it.

 

[itsmilo]

Deleted FB and FB Messenger a long time ago. Those two were such battery suckers.

Since I can count the updates of people on one hand in my fb feed per day, I am just going to the mobile page. Fb has become a hub for „xy liked meme / video xy“ spam

That is one mystery that needs to be solved. But Messenger is more feature-rich than WhatsApp and Messenger supports Apple Watch unlike WhatsApp, so if they ever do merge, it's Messenger that should remain.

Probably a image thing. People in Europe do not trust Facebook yet they use WhatsApp daily. I remember when they changed their terms & conditions a while ago. They actually had to revert it to stay in line with EU laws.

Now that I come to think of it, I think they were only allowed to buy WhatsApp under the condition that it would remain seperate entities in the first place

 

[rbwca]

They could start by removing the sponsored advertisements that started showing up today.

 

[RealSkyDiver]

Facebook vice president of messaging products, David Marcus, posted an update on Messenger today, outlining the app's successes in 2017 and hinting at what the team has planned for 2018.

In the post, Marcus mentioned that the Messenger team knows the app has become "too cluttered." Because of this, they have planned a big update for 2018, which will introduce a simplified and streamlined experience for Facebook Messenger (via The Verge).
In 2017 alone, Facebook Messenger added its 24-hour Snapchat clone "Messenger Day," introduced location sharing, integrated AI assistant "M" into the app, added Apple Music and Spotify extensions, let users purchase products with a MasterCard chatbot, introduced PayPal P2P payments, and even announced a Messenger spin-off app for kids. The main Messenger app got a redesign in May 2017, with Facebook stating at the time that the changes helped "make Messenger simpler for you." Now it appears that the company will try again to simplify the chat app in 2018.

Marcus didn't specify which parts of Facebook Messenger might be removed in the streamlining process, but he did mention a few aspects that the company will continue to focus on in 2018. These include doubling down on "visual messaging" -- i.e. gifs, stickers, videos, and images -- and evolving customer service into a "Customer Care" experience so that users can easily contact companies to have basic troubleshooting and other questions answered.

Article Link: Facebook VP: Messenger App 'Too Cluttered' and Will Be 'Massively' Streamlined This Year

Streamlined back into the fb app I hope, never used the horrid messenger app.

 

[dogslobber]

I've never used Messenger but use the IM on the fakebook web page directly.

 

[Macaholic868]

I’m still pissed they took basic direct messaging features out of the main Facebook app. I get what they were trying to do, making their messaging platform available without needing to have the main Facebook app but IMHO that was stupid and the additional burden it put on end users made the Facebook app less intuitive for most.

I have no use for yet another messaging platform so I’m sticking with iMessages and it’s support for good old SMS messaging when I’m not exchanging messages with an iPhone user.

If Facebook had a clue they’d have left direct messaging functionally in the main app but also offered a separate app for users who only wanted access to its messaging platform. Instead they ripped all messaging access out to a separate app that makes the entire experience more of a pain in the ass than it was previously. Epic fail!!!!!

 

[sundog925]

1. Because separate apps consume more battery, more space, etc., chats are simply part of Facebook.
2. Messaging doesn't need all of these annoying features, especially not video calling.
3. Because so many people think they can send a video call instead of picking up the phone and calling. Oh and because there is no mute option for it, it even ignores the phone's do not disturb settings.

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Actually, on my phone messenger will not work unless FB is installed, so it is required.

ACTUALLY, you don't need it installed.
source: i use both.

 

[tharitm]

Simple, get rid of it and integrate back to the main facebook app.

 

[HacKage]

Why don’t they merge Messanger and WhatsApp? I don’t understand the point of two separate apps.

When people who work at Facebook want to message their friends - which app do they go to, and why?

I use Messenger and WhatsApp for different things. WhatsApp you need the other persons phone number, so is more my friends etc. Messenger is used for any of my Facebook "friends" who may or may not be my friend, or who either of us don't have their number for one reason or another. I like the distinction. The one I use the least is iMessage, simply because there are a lot of friends that use Android still, and I switch my phone between Android and iOS very regularly. Open iMessage up to the masses, and watch WhatsApp usage disappear!

Back on topic, Facebook is a mess. I constantly want to delete the app due to the amount of ads and paid content being forced onto your feed. I still want to use Messenger, although there is absolutely no need for games etc to be in there. Strip Messenger back to be like BBM where you have a username but don't need to have a phone number, and let Facebook destroy itself.

 

[Manatlt]

Simple, get rid of it and integrate back to the main facebook app.

Worst idea ever.
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I use Messenger and WhatsApp for different things. WhatsApp you need the other persons phone number, so is more my friends etc. Messenger is used for any of my Facebook "friends" who may or may not be my friend, or who either of us don't have their number for one reason or another. I like the distinction. The one I use the least is iMessage, simply because there are a lot of friends that use Android still, and I switch my phone between Android and iOS very regularly. Open iMessage up to the masses, and watch WhatsApp usage disappear!

Messenger can do exactly what WhatsApp can do there. Add a number, if the number has a Facebook/Messenger account it'll auto-add to your Messenger contacts (you two won't be added as Facebook friends until you manually add on Facebook yourself). You'll can tell who's your phone contact and not a Facebook friend if you see a contact icon next to their name.

absolutely no need for games

Can you just ignore the games? Maybe the games don't need a separate tab, but I think it's a great addition if you want to beat highscores with friends. It's also an unique feature other apps don't have.

The games are web-based, it doesn't add more storage space to your device so I don't see any harm.

 

[HacKage]

Worst idea ever.
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Messenger can do exactly what WhatsApp can do there. Add a number, if the number has a Facebook/Messenger account it'll auto-add to your Messenger contacts (you two won't be added as Facebook friends until you manually add on Facebook yourself). You'll can tell who's your phone contact and not a Facebook friend if you see a contact icon next to their name.


Can you just ignore the games? Maybe the games don't need a separate tab, but I think it's a great addition if you want to beat highscores with friends. It's also an unique feature other apps don't have.

The games are web-based, it doesn't add more storage space to your device so I don't see any harm.

Yes, I know Messenger can be used for communicating with people through numbers, but the point I was making was I like having distinction between people who I don't want to give my number to and communicate with (Messenger), and people who have my phone number and speak with more often (WhatsApp).

 

[Brien]

“Invest in massively simplifying”
Ugh, just get rid of stuff. No need to sound all fancy about it. It’s not rocket science.

I hope this signals a change in strategy from their ‘be the entire internet’ MO they’ve had for awhile.

 

[B60boy]

Yes, I know Messenger can be used for communicating with people through numbers, but the point I was making was I like having distinction between people who I don't want to give my number to and communicate with (Messenger), and people who have my phone number and speak with more often (WhatsApp).

So do you use both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp? I have both and the only action I get is on FM and over 4 years i have got one message on WhatsApp and I have been thinking about deleting it.

However, I do see your point on the reasoning for keeping both. Makes sense.

 

[C DM]

So do you use both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp? I have both and the only action I get is on FM and over 4 years i have got one message on WhatsApp and I have been thinking about deleting it.

However, I do see your point on the reasoning for keeping both. Makes sense.

It all really depends on what you like to use and what the people you communicate with like to use. Can be, and often enough is certainly different for different people and even at different times and/or places.