Meta will disable one of the most useful features of Instagram and Facebook Messenger

Meta announced that will eliminate integration between Instagram and Facebook Messenger; a feature the company introduced in 2020 that allowed users to connect with people on Facebook through the Instagram app itself, or vice versa.

This function was intended create some kind of basic messaging infrastructure between the three meta-applications. On the one hand, Instagram, and more specifically direct messages, which are one of the most frequently used functions of the platform. On the other hand, Facebook Messenger, which even has an independent application. WhatsApp was also in the equation, although it never became available.

Therefore these plans will be cancelled. starting mid-December this year. Specifically, Meta will remove the following currently available features, as stated on the support page.

• You will not be able to start new conversations or calls using Facebook accounts from Instagram.
• Any existing Instagram chats you have with Facebook accounts will be read-only, even if those Facebook accounts are removed from the chat. This means that you and other people with Instagram accounts cannot send new messages in these chats.
• Facebook accounts won’t be able to see the status of your activity or whether you’ve seen a post.
• Any existing chats you had with Facebook accounts will not be transferred to your Facebook or Messenger inbox.

If the user wants to continue the conversation, they must be logged into Facebook Messenger (if the recipient is using Facebook) or Instagram (if the recipient is using Direct Messages).

Meta prepares to comply with Digital Markets Act with Instagram and Facebook

While the deactivation of this feature is negative news for those users who used it, especially in the US and Latin America where the feature was available, Meta’s decision may make sense. First of all, if we take into account that the company must comply with the European Union Digital Markets Act (DMA).

This law, in particular, obliges large technology companies Ensure compatibility between your messaging apps even with other third party applications.

Thus, a user using WhatsApp can write to someone who uses, for example, Telegram. This also impacts the company’s own messaging apps. Thus, integration between Instagram and Facebook Messenger will be available again in the coming months.