Facebook's Most Recent Test Brings Back In-App Messaging

Facebook CEO Tom Alison disclosed on Tuesday that the company is exploring a feature that would allow users to access their Messenger inboxes from within the Facebook app.

Facebook made the controversial decision to force users into the Messenger app back in 2016 by removing messaging features from its mobile web application.

Currently, the business is testing reversing this choice.

Alison stated in a blog post that the social network is presently testing this move and that Facebook intends to shortly broaden the test.

The modification occurs as Facebook and other services owned by Meta try to outdo TikTok.

“Over the coming year, we’ll build more ways to integrate messaging features in Facebook,” Alison said in the blog post.

“Ultimately, we want it to be easy and convenient for people to connect and share, whether in the Messenger app or directly within Facebook.”

Facebook has been shifting its focus in the last year away from being an app for close friends and family and towards promoting itself as a platform for discovery.

The social network updated its "Home" feed in June of last year to improve content discovery.

Facebook claimed at the time that the Home feed acts as a discovery tool for users to discover new creators and content through algorithmic suggestions.

The action demonstrated TikTok, Meta's greatest danger, remained to be the object of its pursuit.

It makes sense that Facebook would want to bring back in-app messaging given its recent emphasis on serving as a discovery engine.

It can then advertise itself as a location where users can directly debate material after finding it.

Facebook needs to make it simpler for users to share content they find on the social network via messaging without having to open another app.

Facebook probably believes that in order to compete with TikTok, it must offer users the ability to debate new material in private messages.

Alison stated as part of today's statement that Facebook is "thriving" and has had a terrific start to this year.

“Contrary to reports otherwise, Facebook is not dead nor dying, but in fact alive and thriving with 2 billion daily active users,” Alison wrote.

“People are using Facebook for more than connecting with friends and family, but also to discover and engage around what is most important to them.”

The business posted fourth-quarter revenue of $32.17 billion in Q4, above projections, but nevertheless down 4% year over year and marking the third consecutive quarter of decreases.

Though Meta promised "a year of efficiency" and deemphasized its focus on the metaverse in favour of AI work, the stock rose after its earnings beat.