Facebook’s latest test brings back in-app messaging
Fb head Tom Alison announced at the moment that the corporate is testing the power for customers to entry their Messenger inbox throughout the Fb app. Back in 2016, Fb eliminated messaging capabilities from its cell internet software to push individuals to the Messenger app, in a transfer that angered many customers.
Now, the corporate is testing a reversal of this resolution. In a blog post, Alison mentioned the social community is at present testing this transformation, and famous that Fb plans to develop the test quickly. The change comes as Fb, and different Meta-owned platforms, wish to compete with TikTok.
“Over the approaching yr, we’ll construct extra methods to combine messaging options in Fb,” Alison mentioned within the weblog put up. “In the end, we wish it to be simple and handy for individuals to attach and share, whether or not within the Messenger app or instantly inside Fb.”
Over the previous yr, Fb has been transferring away from specializing in being an app for shut family and friends, and has as a substitute been positioning itself as a discovery platform. Final June, the social community revamped its “Residence” feed to boost content material discovery. On the time, Fb mentioned the Residence feed serves as a discovery engine for customers to search out new content material and creators by algorithmic suggestions.
The transfer indicated Meta’s continued need to chase TikTok, its best risk. On condition that Fb has been specializing in being a discovery engine, it’s not shocking that it’s trying to convey back in-app messaging. By doing so, it may well current itself as a spot for customers to instantly talk about content material after discovering it. Alison notes that it’s essential for Fb to make it simpler for individuals to share what they uncover on Fb through messaging, with out having to modify to a different app. Since TikTok surfaces new content material to its customers, and in addition offers a spot to debate it through DMs, Fb seemingly thinks it must the identical to compete with it.
As a part of at the moment’s announcement, Alison mentioned that Fb is off to a fantastic begin this yr and that the social community is “thriving.”
“Opposite to studies in any other case, Fb shouldn’t be lifeless nor dying, however in reality alive and thriving with 2 billion every day energetic customers,” Alison wrote. “Individuals are utilizing Fb for greater than connecting with family and friends, but in addition to find and have interaction round what’s most essential to them.”
In its fourth-quarter earnings reported final month, the corporate reported income of $32.17 billion in This autumn, topping estimates, although nonetheless down 4% year-over-year and representing the third straight quarter of declines. Nevertheless, the inventory popped after its earnings beat due to Meta’s guarantees of “a yr of effectivity” and its deemphasized deal with the metaverse in favor of AI work.
