Meta Ends Cross-Messaging Between IG & FB

Meta has discreetly updated its support pages, signaling an upcoming end to the ability for Instagram users to message their Facebook contacts. The company has indicated that this feature will be discontinued in mid-December, though an exact date remains unspecified.

According to information on the support page, users will no longer be able to initiate new cross-platform conversations. Existing chats on Instagram, however, will transition to a read-only status. This move comes three years after Meta initially introduced cross-platform messaging in 2020, with additional features such as group chat being incorporated over time.

Despite the discontinuation, Meta has not provided a specific reason for ending the cross-platform messaging feature. It's noteworthy that the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) mandates large messaging apps to maintain interoperability with one another.

In September, there were reports that Meta-owned WhatsApp was working on an interoperability feature, evident from the discovery of a "third-party chats" screen by WABetaInfo. Meanwhile, in August, Meta announced its intention to enable end-to-end encryption for Messenger users by default by the year's end. During that announcement, Meta's deputy privacy officer, Rob Sherman, stated that Instagram DMs would also receive end-to-end encryption once the Messenger rollout was completed. However, Meta has not clarified if the discontinuation of cross-platform messaging is related to this development.

In a separate move, Meta has committed to revamping its account center to provide users with more control over cross-site activities. This decision was made following the guidance of the German antitrust body in June.