Monday, April 21, 2014

Online Marketing Companies & Facebook's Removal Of Mobile Messaging

By Robbie Sutter


It goes without saying but Facebook is arguably the largest social media network in the world. With so many people who have access to both the Facebook site as well as its mobile alternatives, it's hard to deny that it is a heavily utilized site. With that said, though, is it possible that Facebook is taking more control of its mobile efforts, for better or worse? Judging by the fact that it is removing messaging from its app, it could be a point for online marketing companies to key in on.

Facebook made it a point to say that it would be eliminating the messenger function from its main app that is used by countless smartphone and iPod owners. To put it into simplest terms, if they want a messaging service for Facebook, the Messenger app would be the way to go. The news arrived to those in Europe and to say that there have been grievances, in response, would be an understatement. Online marketing companies can make the argument that this effort made by Facebook could lead to users being driven away.

However, I can see this move raising the ire of many a Facebook user and I am sure that online marketing companies would be able to agree. To put it simply, people dislike clutter, which is a point that is supported by firms along the lines of fishbat as well. In addition, it seems like Facebook is forcing this change upon its users as opposed to allowing them to become more used to the change over time. A sudden shift, in my view, is not going to sit well.

I do not want to see this go down in a similar fashion to Microsoft's announced DRM of the Xbox One prior to its release. After all, it is important to note that the console itself came under heavy fire on account of the inclusion of DRM restrictions to degrees which have not been seen in video game consoles in the past. The gaming masses voiced their displeasure and, as a result, Microsoft decided to simply release the console without said restrictions. Could Facebook turn a similar corner with the omission of its messaging function through its main app?

Will Facebook pull back on this change, thereby making it seem as though it hadn't happened in the first place? It's hard to say, especially when this particular story is still so young at this point. With that said, though, a company should not take it upon itself to remove features for any reason whatsoever. To me, it goes against what consumers want and hopefully, in time, this news story will be looked at as one that can be considered as nothing but a blemish on the part of Facebook.




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