Meta will no longer allow messages between Facebook and Instagram
Meta has recently, and discretely updated its support pages to announce a significant change that will affect users' ability to message their Facebook contacts through Instagram, and vice versa.
According to reports by 9to5Google, Meta explained that this cross-platform messaging feature would cease to function sometime in mid-December, although a specific date was not given. Notably, users will no longer be able to initiate new cross-platform conversations or calls with Facebook accounts from Instagram. Any of the existing chats on Instagram will be downgraded to read-only status, meaning that you cannot send new messages to other users. Similarly, Facebook accounts won't be able to view your activity status, to see whether or not you have seen a message. And again, any existing chats you've had with Facebook accounts will no longer move to your inbox on both Facebook and Messenger. This marks a noteworthy shift, considering Meta's introduction of cross-platform messaging in 2020 and subsequent feature enhancements like group chat.
The decision to discontinue this functionality raises questions as Meta has not offered a clear explanation. It's worth noting that the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) stipulates that large messaging apps must ensure interoperability, adding a layer of complexity to Meta's decision.
In September, there were reports suggesting that WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is working on a feature that allows users to chat with people on other messaging platforms. Meta also announced plans in August to make Messenger more secure with end-to-end encryption, which means only the sender and receiver can read the messages. Once this is done for Messenger, Instagram Direct Messages will also get this security feature. Although Meta hasn't directly said that stopping cross-platform messaging on Instagram is related to these security efforts, the timing makes people wonder.
On another note, Meta is planning to give users more control over their accounts across different websites. This decision is influenced by feedback from the German antitrust body and reflects Meta's response to changing rules. These changes in Meta's services show how social media platforms are always evolving, and they are influenced by new rules and regulations. People are keeping a close eye on what happens next and how these changes might affect Meta's policies and services.