It had been a while, but now the first steps have been taken. Facebook has started to merge the chat services (of) Facebook Messenger and Instagram. Later WhatsApp will also be added to the mix.
Since mid-August, various users of Facebook Messenger and the private messaging function of Instagram have been shown that both chat services can be merged. The message, which is now mainly on Instagram, mentions that there is now a new way of chatting and that you will have access to new functions. Think of colorful chats, more emoji reactions (on messages), the option to swipe to reply and of course the possibility to chat with your friends on Facebook Messenger.
Facebook merges Instagram and Facebook Messenger
When you decide to update (this is still a voluntary process), the dm icon (dm stands for direct message, also known as private message) of Instagram will change to the Messenger icon. Chats indeed look more colorful, as message bubbles transition from blue to purple. However, at the time of writing, it is not yet possible to start a conversation from Facebook Messenger with someone from Instagram. So it is possible the other way around.
Although many users are not waiting for these changes, Facebook will continue to merge the products. The changes were announced months ago by the American social media company. The goal is to bring together Facebook Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, so that it will no longer matter to users which app they use. Then you can have contact from one of those three apps with anyone who uses one of the three services.
Facebook has had to change the underlying infrastructure for the three chat services. Mark Zuckerburg, the CEO of Facebook, also promises that all messages are encrypted from end to end, but there is still a lot of uncertainty about this. This is also the reason that WhatsApp is unlikely to join the mix yet. That service is completely encrypted from user to user.
Facebook Messenger is, in principle, also, but you have to manually activate this encryption in the app. If someone forgets that, then the conversation is not encrypted end to end and you run the risk of information leaking. Then you can use WhatsApp on your end or have the encryption activated – if the person on the other end of the line doesn’t, there is in fact no good encryption.
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