* It takes up zero phone memory. Yes, this is still an issue on really cheap Android phones. [0]
* It takes up zero phone resources, unlike the Facebook app, which is known for slowing down your entire phone. [1]
* The messenger app wants to send me notifications about stupid things and collect personal data using its over-broad permissions. I don't trust Facebook, and I'm not a tinfoil hat type.
* I don't want another chat ecosystem in my life, but if someone does message me on Facebook, I'd like to be able to see it on my phone without having to install an idiotic, resource-sapping, spyware app.
I really, really don't want a "good" Facebook chat solution. People want to chat with me, they can use Skype, Google Hangouts, or Slack. Or just send me an email and we can talk on the phone.
[0] http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_core_prime-6716.php
Sarcasm much?
If I'm not using it, it's using no resources. When I'm using it, then duh, it uses transient resources in Chrome, but when I close the tab, it's back to zero. If I end up using it once every two months, the amortized resource usage is probably 0.1% of an app that needs to receive push notifications.
>Messenger is not a just another chat ecosystem, it is THE chat ecosystem.
Shill much? I just tried to check to see how many people had even tried to contact me in the last year on Messenger, and it looks like I've received about 5 messages in 12 months. But it's hard to tell, because the web app keeps crashing/locking up. No other chat ecosystem I'm connected to behaves that poorly.
If you're using it with all your friends, have a blast. Just don't expect me to respond quickly if you message me; email on my secondary email account would be faster. When I checked just now I found a message that I hadn't noticed and that had sat, unanswered, for 9 months. Not the best way to get a hold of me.
>What makes you think Google, Microsoft and the Slack teams intentions are more "pure" than Facebook?
Nothing. But Hangouts is on my (Android) phone and in my life anyway. Skype is what business contacts seem to always want to use; I swear it has a 99.9% market penetration for companies that do remote work or hire remote workers. Skype also has awesome Skype-to-phone calling, including 3-way calls, that works great with my high quality microphone and speakers, so I can talk hands free and everyone can understand me well. And Slack is ideal for group and work-team hangouts.
Why would I buy into another ecosystem? Just so that I can install yet another app on my phone and on my desktop? I am very reachable by email. If you know my name, you can likely find a contact email for me within 15 minutes. If someone doesn't have my email address and doesn't care enough to put in 2-15 minutes of "research" to find it, I'm not sure if I care whether they can easily contact me. And if they must use Messenger, well, I'm sure I'll see their message eventually.
>as much as you like to think your special, no one cares what you, yourself do.
I'll just leave these here:
http://www.geek.com/news/facebook-like-button-tracks-you-eve...
http://www.ted.com/talks/alessandro_acquisti_why_privacy_mat...
https://www.teachprivacy.com/10-reasons-privacy-matters/
https://www.ted.com/talks/glenn_greenwald_why_privacy_matter...
Many of these focus on government access to information, but many times companies have just handed over anything the government has asked for without a fight. Facebook absolutely is watching me along with billions of other people. No, no one at Facebook cares, but they're compiling a huge dossier on practically everyone on the planet. So is Google, but I believe that Google at least tries to Do No Harm. And I don't use Gmail as my primary mail service, either -- I also use Duck Duck Go for most of my searches.
I just think it's not healthy for any one company to have too much information about everyone. Makes an oppressive government's job too easy, if one should arise coughTrumpcough.
Perhaps because the web version is not limited to the proprietary runtime of a single operating system.
Yes, most devices support the abstract concept of a messenger app, but they each have their own runtimes and APIs that the app must be written for. Writing a web version supports a huge number of clients in a single pass.
Facebook can sync with your contacts and make a huge jumbled mess
Facebook app drains battery
Facebook app demands elevated privileges that it shouldn't need
Facebook may or may not be listening to your microphone