Instagram Merging Facebook Messenger: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

29 Oct Instagram Merging Facebook Messenger: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg declared his plans last year to integrate Instagram Direct, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger into a common messaging experience. This means you can send messages to Instagram people from Messenger and vice-versa. To cut short, it was aimed to manage end-to-end encryption covering the whole messaging community.

Apparently, this step was taken by Facebook to emphasize privacy. However, the news received mixed reactions from all across the globe. Let’s discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly perceptions against this merger.

THE GOOD: ENCOURAGING END-TO-END ENCRYPTION

-This will make it easier for people to contact and reach out to people on the other channel, using just one channel. This can be done without downloading a separate app. Also, the calls and messages from Instagram to Instagram users will remain on Instagram only.

-The key benefit of this merger is end-to-end encryption of all messaging platforms together. This means only the communicating users can read the messages. Therefore, it prevents potential eavesdroppers to access the chats. This includes the internet providers, telecom providers, etc and they cannot decrypt the conversation.

-After the merger, the apps will exist separately with separate features. But the whole personal information will remain in a shared database.

-New features on the platform’s Direct Messages include react with emojis, change the color of the chatbox, create selfie stickers, and many more. Also, if profiles are synced, Messenger will take the name and display picture from Instagram.

-Another new feature coming to Instagram would be Watch Together, that is users can watch videos on Facebook Watch, IGTV, Reels, TV shows, Movies, etc. during a video call.

-Vanish Mode feature will also be introduced. With this mode, messages will disappear after they have been seen or after the chat is closed.

-Animated Message Effects will add visual style to a text with animated send effects. Also, Message Controls would let you decide who can message you directly and who can’t.

-There is a big scope for Ad revenue with this merger. Advertisers will be more interested in reaching a huge audience at once.

-The creative influencers and brands who want to post the same content over their social profiles will be benefited. This can be done now automatically within Facebook.

-Also, shopping on Facebook and Instagram will become easier as payment information will be saved. Facebook Pay syncing will allow users to buy directly, no matter where they see the ad.

THE BAD: UNANSWERED QUESTIONS CONCERNING IMPLEMENTATION

-This merger actually raises some security questions. WhatsApp is well known for keeping the user’s content secure by only using a phone number. Whereas, Messenger is not encrypted in the same way WhatsApp is.

-It becomes really complicated. Because the messaging services will be individual but their basic foundation will remain the same.

-Moreover, Sharing WhatsApp data to Facebook’s team for Ad targeting raises eyeballs.

Even data protection authorities in the UK opposed forcefully to reverse the plans.

-The update does not sync previous chats to the new messaging channel. Thereby, it will be an all-new chat room without old messages.

-This would not be favorable for the users who want to keep the usage of their apps separate. They will have a harder time if a common structure connects user information across channels.

THE UGLY: EFFECT ON THE THREE COMPANIES

-The merger announcement was highly criticized by the public. It is considered to be an attempt to protect Facebook against antitrust law.

-When Facebook acquired WhatsApp and Instagram, it promised the freedom of each company. But this merger breaks Facebook’s promise.

-Therefore, this prevented WhatsApp and Instagram to get separated from Facebook and form their individual entities.

-The employees of both companies are in complete shock due to this unexpected sudden announcement. They have both oppositions as well as hesitations towards this change.

-There is a rift going between the employees of WhatsApp and Facebook over internal messaging. This proves the gradual merge would not be as smooth as was expected by top management.

-In many countries, Facebook does not have dominance in messaging apps overall, even in the United States. Thus, Facebook strategically wants to become popular among big tech companies.

SUMMARY

Overall, it can be inferred that the move is user-oriented. Since there are many positive aspects of this merger. However, the results of this change will be implemented gradually. Thus, there will be enough time to work on the organizational disputes that are accompanied by the merger.