Facebook Messenger and Instagram have been able to send DMs across apps since 2020. At that time, Facebook (which is now called Meta) stated that this was done to provide Instagram users with the experience of using Messenger to send messages on Instagram.
However, three years later, they have had a change of heart. The latest updates on Instagram’s support page indicate that cross-app messaging between Instagram and Facebook Messenger will no longer be possible starting from mid-December 2023.
What this means is that users will no longer be able to start new conversations or call Facebook accounts from Instagram. Existing cross-platform chats will only be readable, and no new messages can be sent. Facebook accounts will also no longer display their active status in Instagram, and existing cross-app chats will not be migrated to Facebook Messenger.
Meta has not provided a specific reason for this change, but it is speculated to be related to the gatekeeper issue in the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. This act requires platforms with a significant number of users to allow interoperability with other services. The separation of cross-app messaging may result in a decrease in the total number of users for Facebook Messenger and Instagram.
TLDR: Facebook Messenger and Instagram will no longer support cross-app messaging from December 2023 onwards. This means that users will not be able to initiate new conversations between the platforms or call Facebook accounts from Instagram. Existing cross-app chats will only be readable, and no new messages can be sent. This change might be influenced by the gatekeeper issue in the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, potentially impacting the user base of both Facebook Messenger and Instagram.
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