Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders

Re:Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and Wh... by diogenescynic on Tuesday June 05, 2018 @07:08PM (#17242915)

They won’t even let you view messages on the mobile website either. Instead they restrict that and force you to install the Messenger app. Yelp does the same thing and feels just as scummy of a tactic. Basically both companies try to force you to install an app you don’t actually need so they can mine your contacts and personal data. No thanks to your tricks and traps business model.

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Re:Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and Wh... by exolymph on Tuesday June 05, 2018 @08:59PM (#17243562)

Last I tried, mbasic.facebook.com would let you look at messages on the mobile web.

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Re:Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and Wh... by _audakel on Tuesday June 05, 2018 @09:14PM (#17243644)

Wow. Can confirm worked for me. Seems like the version low connectivity countries would get

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Re:Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and Wh... by wpietri on Tuesday June 05, 2018 @11:51PM (#17244243)

You can also tell your browser to view Facebook in desktop mode, and you can then see the messages. Not a pleasant user experience, but fine for the rare times when I need it.

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Re:Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and Wh... by gnicholas on Wednesday June 06, 2018 @12:04AM (#17244277)

It looks fine if you go to m.facebook.com and request the desktop version of the page.

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Re:Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and Wh... by intended on Wednesday June 06, 2018 @01:54AM (#17244653)

This will always be the case as long as advertising is the core business model.

Social media is best suited to that kind of business model - and most people won’t pay for a subscription.

So social media is broke?

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