On December 26, Facebook silently removes the option of creating a messenger account without having a Facebook profile. The user must have an active Facebook profile for the Messenger services.
Facebook Spokesperson
History
Back in 2015, Facebook gives the option of using Messenger without having an active Facebook profile. The main aim of this feature was to give access to messenger to those regions where facebook is not readily available.
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The removal of the option to sign up for Messenger without a Facebook account is a small step, however, it really works to further solidify and merge Facebook’s diverse tools. By doing away with it as an alternative, Facebook ticks off another field within the broader shift closer to messaging unification.