Cross-App Messaging for Instagram and Messenger: Latest Update

 Facebook has come with a new feature of its cross-app management. The deployment of this new function provides Instagram and Messenger users to interact across apps. The company left no stone unturned, bringing many Messenger-inspired features to the lately acquired photo-sharing app Instagram.

On the other side, Instagram users can update to a new messaging experience that enables users to watch videos, change the chat colour or react with any emoji they want.

Now let us dive deeper at how this new messaging feature works and what are the issues on Privacy.

Enabling Search across Instagram and Messenger

The latest update from the social media giant Facebook allows users to search for accounts across Instagram and Messenger. The previous version will display the account information and the basic details for private and public accounts.

However, private accounts will be visible to followers and friends.

Data for Ad Suggestion

Facebook has clearly mentioned that the content of chats won't be used for suggesting ads. The company plans to collect data only to improve the product service and maintain the security of user data. It has clearly affirmed to preserve sensitive data. The company aims to hold to its privacy policy.

User Control for Contact Regulation

The latest Messenger feature will be available to new Instagram users or people using the Messenger app. The best thing about it is you don't require a Facebook account to access this feature. Users are granted more controls to regulate who can reach out to them.

Here we'll see how this plays out.

The new privacy settings allow you to determine

  • Access to the chat list
  • Can access the Message Request Folder
  • Those prohibited from messaging or calling you

For instance, a user has an option to block certain people from Facebook from sending them messages.

The "Account Center" now allows the user to manage who can reach out to you across various apps.

Safety Notice

Messenger has flagged “Safety Notice.” This means in case you observe suspicious activity, you can report it. These notices come in handy for minor users using Messenger and Instagram. However, the Safety Notice is yet to be rolled out on Instagram. Nevertheless, Facebook stated that it would release this soon and provided it to minors at the earliest.

Apart from that, the usual option of reporting or blocking still prevails. However, blocking an account won't affect the same person's other account on the same or other platforms. Moreover, the Account Center provides suggestions to block someone the same way that you receive friend suggestion.

What Next?

Facebook and Instagram cross-app messaging is undoubtedly a unique feature. There are pros and cons, and the company clearly knows about it. It won't be too far when other platforms integrate the same model that Facebook applied to its messaging application.

But the challenge still stays on how the company meets the expectation and how it uses the platform for the advertisement to help generate business revenue.