Facebook has decided to merge Messenger with Instagram direct, by which users can send messages across both platforms. Users are receiving a pop-up that has information related to this update. The pop-up says, “There’s a New Way to Message on Instagram,”.

Some of the benefits of merging Messenger with Instagram direct:

• Chats are upgraded with new colourful and attractive fonts and styles.
• React with any emoji
• Swipe to reply to any message, the feature is the same as WhatsApp has provided to the user.
• Users can chat with their Facebook friends through Instagram.

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Users are warned that after updating, Instagram Direct will almost look like Messenger even the icon will be replaced by Messenger icon, and because of this reason Facebook had made this feature optional.

If the user wants to continue with the Instagram design can select ‘Not Now’, while the user who wished to merge both platforms can select ‘Update’. If the users have not updated the app,  they will still receive request to update from the facebook accounts. A facebook user has to message first, this is the only way to message Facebook users from Instagram.

The users who prefer to communicate by Messenger (non-facebook users),  will stay in thouch with their freinds and family. Messenger users can chat with Instagram user staying on the same platform.

Cross-Platform Messaging Feature

Facebook already declare in June that the company is palnning to merge it’s messaging apps.

Facebook Said:

“[We want to] build the best messaging experiences we can; and people want messaging to be fast, simple, reliable and private.

We’re working on making more of our messaging products end-to-end encrypted and considering ways to make it easier to reach friends and family across networks.”

Plans were of early 2020, but due to pandemic main focus of Facebook was shifted towards Live Stream. This resulted in increase in time spent of Facebook.