Meta is retiring its separate Messenger web site, which seems to be to be one other signal of the corporate stepping again its plan to create an built-in messaging back-end, through which all of its varied messaging platforms would have been interconnected.
Messenger customers are being notified of the change, with a pop-up showing within the app, and on the web site, which explains that messenger.com can be going away on April 2026.
As per Meta: “Beginning April 2026, messenger.com will now not be accessible for messaging. The Messenger desktop app can also be now not accessible. You need to use fb.com/messages to proceed messaging on internet.”
So that you’ll nonetheless be capable to ship and obtain messages on the net, however that can be built-in into Fb, versus through a separate Messenger platform.
“After messenger.com goes away, you may be routinely redirected to make use of fb.com/messages for messaging on a pc. You possibly can proceed your conversations there or on the Messenger cell app. If you happen to at the moment use Messenger with out a Fb account, you may proceed your conversations on the Messenger cell app.”
Meta additionally shut down the separate Messenger desktop app for Home windows and Mac in October final yr.
It’s a major shift in help for Messenger, although it’ll give Meta fewer platforms to keep up, lowering value and labor time.
Although as famous, it does additionally look like the newest step in Meta’s altering method to messaging, and the way it seems to be to facilitate this as a separate operate.
For years, Meta had been engaged on a plan to combine Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram Direct right into a single back-end infrastructure, which might then allow customers of every app to entry a common inbox, with all of their mixed messaging threads throughout every platform accessible in a single place.
However then, in 2023, Meta introduced plans to reintegrate messaging again into Fb, making it a much bigger focus for engagement in the principle app, whereas it additionally added a separate DM inbox for Threads final yr, which appears to run counter to its messaging integration plan.
As a result of why add one other platform when you’re nonetheless working to meld the others collectively, and why carry messages again to the principle app, when you’re working to construct them as a separate, mixed entity?
It may very well be that Meta has deserted this push as a result of it now not feels that it wants it, with its long-running battle towards the FTC now, seemingly, in its rear-view.
The FTC has been in search of to power Meta to divest WhatsApp and Instagram, resulting from its view that Meta had used these acquisitions to quash competitors out there, and preserve dominance over the digital adverts area. A Federal Courtroom choose dominated towards the FTC’s declare final yr, however with the case working for over seven years, it had been a major concern, which had seen Meta probably in search of to mix its messaging techniques with the intention to defend itself towards the prospect of the ruling going towards it.
As a result of if all of its messaging instruments are melded collectively, then separating WhatsApp and Instagram could be unattainable, so even when Meta was compelled to divest the 2, it probably wouldn’t be capable to, and Meta would then be capable to construct a protection towards this order.
However with Meta profitable the case, which had appeared probably for a while, perhaps it now not feels the necessity to implement this as a fail protected, which is why it’s now transferring away from separate messaging instruments, and seeking to reintegrate messaging into every of its separate apps (I’ve requested Meta for more information on whether or not the mixing plan continues to be going forward.)
Both manner, the separate Messenger app goes away, and customers should message individuals on Fb as an alternative.
Which likely already do anyway.
