Facebook’s workaround of chatting on its mobile website rather than downloading Messenger is coming to an end.
The social network is beginning to block users from using the messaging tab on Facebook’s mobile website and is forcing them to download Facebook Messenger. “Soon, you’ll only be able to view messages from Messenger,” a stern warning reads encouraging people to download Messenger.
Facebook’s strategy of blocking people from messaging on mobile mirrors its move two years ago when it disabled chatting on its flagship Facebook app, again pushing people to download Messenger. At the time, Facebook explained the point of doing this was to give users a “better experience” when chatting and is offering the same explanation this time around.
“Since 2014, we’ve worked hard to make Messenger the best way to connect with the people you care about by adding video calling, conversations with businesses, gifs and much more. Messenger helps messages load about 20 percent faster and enables richer interactions,” Facebook explained.
“BS move. Apparently users’ preference don’t matter,” one angery user tweeted. Another person sarcastically tweeted: “How very sweet + ultra lucrative for Facebook to disable messaging in its mobile web app to push ppl to Messenger.”
While chatting on Messenger is speedier compared to its archaic-feeling mobile website, Facebook’s real reason is to push people to another app that it can make tons of money off of. The app has 900 million monthly active users and growing, and is consistently being updated with new chatbots, video calling and even 1,500 new emojis.
More in Media
Inside Bloomberg Media’s survival guide for the AI era
The business news publisher has yet to sign a content licensing deal with an AI company, but it did recently implement a new AI-powered on-site search engine.
Media Briefing: Overheard at the Digiday Publishing Summit, September 2025 Google search edition
Media execs aired their grievances about Google referral traffic and their souring relationship with platform during the Digiday Publishing Summit.
How EssentiallySports’ creator program benefits both sides of the equation
Over the past year, sports news publication EssentiallySports has employed creators to make in-house video and editorial content around major tentpole sporting events — and thus far, the experiment has paid off.