I have not found any news article on this on a whim. Because my friends and family, I need to use Facebook Messenger, and Messenger Lite was a OK client - lightweight, no unnecessary features, etc., compared to the regular Messenger app.

Now I’m a little torn, having a Meta app on my phone is already bad, but having to downgrade to the bloated Messenger app? Not sure I will make a change. What are your thoughts?

  • Birdcatname@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    Ever since Facebook forced the separate Messenger app, I’ve refused to install it. Instead, when I see a message notification, I pop into a browser, head to Facebook.com and push the desktop version. While it’s clunky, I’ve never had to download Messenger.

    • Carter@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      Separate messaging app was the best thing they ever did. I’ve not had Facebook installed since.

      • Steeve@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        You’re still using their shit, just in a very inconvenient way. In fact, you’re going to their site that contains targeted ads rather than using an ad free app. What a strange hill to die on.

        • MagicShel@programming.dev
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          1 year ago

          I have exactly one group that insists on communicating this way. Which is why this isn’t a big inconvenience for me. Your point is well taken, but doesn’t really apply in my case. I’m not a user of the service, which is why it’s so easy for me to refuse to install it, and hopefully I can use this to pressure the group to move to discord or some other means of communication. But if not I will continue to use the desktop site rather than install an app.

          • Ulijin@feddit.uk
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            1 year ago

            I’m in the exact same position as you and take the same approach. It’s a hill I’m getting a mildly stubbed toe on.

        • bobs_monkey@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          I’d rather have a slight inconvenience of seeing their ads on their website for the few moments I’d need to send a message than having their spyware of an app tracking everything I do all day long.

          • Steeve@lemmy.ca
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            1 year ago

            Not only is that not possible on both Android and iPhone nowadays, that’s a myth that’s never been remotely proven.

              • Steeve@lemmy.ca
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                1 year ago

                Yeah, none of that means they’re tracking everything you do all day long.

                • Seasoned_Greetings@lemmy.ml
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                  1 year ago

                  Man, this is the single most ignorant comment I’ve seen regarding Facebook. You’ve never wondered how a company that offers a free product makes billions?

                  If that list didn’t have anything on it except “location”, I’d still say that you’re wrong about them not tracking you. How can you read all of the other things on that list and not realize that selling your data is how they make money?

    • twistedtxb@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      Why? I mean it’s much better to have the messenger app without all the facebook BS.

      Its very easy to disregard facebook in 2023, but Messenger is still one of the more prominent messaging app.

    • WashedOver@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      Same here. I wish Disa messenger app was maintained as it was my one stop shop for a few messenger apps.

    • Chriskmee@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I hate to say this, but Facebook Messenger is one of the most fully featured messaging apps. It has its own internal messaging standard that offers iMessage like features between Facebook users, and it also is one of the better SMS apps out there.

      I can see why they make it its own app, it’s supposed to replace other messaging apps.